Alice Clayton

Interior designer Caroline and her photographer boyfriend Simon have to sort out their seemingly perfect relationship after Simon decides he'd like to travel less and be around more, in this sequel to Wallbanger. Original.

Rusty Nailed

Again with the cat POV epilogue? Okay, so, I love Simon. Absolutely love Wallbanger… BUT this book — while, yes, tying up some loose ends — felt like a chronicle of the typical growing pains of a relationship. There wasn’t much of a plot line, and the problems Caroline was grappling with felt so pedestrian and easily solvable with a little communication to Simon or to her boss.  

Still, absolutely loved the first, but I don’t believe that Caroline and Simon needed a whole second book… their continued growth together could have been peripheral to one of the other stories in the series. 

Katie Avila

Again with the cat POV epilogue? Okay, so, I love Simon. Absolutely love Wallbanger… BUT this book — while, yes, tying up some loose ends — felt like a chronicle of the typical growing pains of a relationship. There wasn’t much of a plot line, and the problems Caroline was grappling with felt so pedestrian and easily solvable with a little communication to Simon or to her boss.  

Still, absolutely loved the first, but I don’t believe that Caroline and Simon needed a whole second book… their continued growth together could have been peripheral to one of the other stories in the series. 

Jennifer Eggleston 

We pick up where we left off ... it's not like the 1st but that Clive is still hilarious. I would say that this is not your usual romance novel. Rusty Nailed explores the HEA and it's filled with the loving moments, the you are getting on my nerves moments, I'm a grown up moments ...it's called life. I enjoyed reading on about their life. It's a readers dream. You want to know what happens when things become ... real, in a totally fictious way. LOL. 

This is the story of what happens to the h/H rides off into the sunset. 

I was hoping for a wedding, boo. ;)

Noelia Abreu

Unfortunately, this wasn't as good as the first book. I think it was unnecessary and maybe it could have worked better as a novella. 

The bad: I just didn't really care about Neil and Sophia's drama and I couldn't understand what was Carline's problem! She was really annoying in this one and the unnecessary drama was stupid and lasted way too long. 

The good: Simon. He was wonderful and I was really happy to see him making progress and overcoming his issues with his past. 

I still loved Simon and Caroline and, as usual, Alice Clayton delivered a really funny read. I think if you want to read this you will like it and if you don't then I don't think you will miss much.

J Ashlie

loved this book, & the ending. hope to read more of their story in the next ones

Cat Nunez 

Me encantó <3 

PD: amé que contaran sobre sus amigos, en especial de Sophia y Neil, me gustó mucho su historia y las idas y vueltas que daban.

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I love all things Wallbanger. I was thrilled to learn there would be another book following Simon and Caroline in this series, but I was a little apprehensive because I didn't want one of my favorite couples fighting with each other. Still, I jumped at the chance to read and review it... and participate in this tour. I knew Alice wouldn't let me down, and she didn't. 

Simon. Oh, Simon. How I love thee. Seriously, what isn't there to love about this man? He's sexy. He's thoughtful. He's a travel photographer. He balances sweet and "throw down good time" really well. I'm convinced if you look up the word "swoony" in the dictionary, you'll find his gorgeous face. I loved the glimpse into his more vulnerable side during this book. I loved Simon even more in this book than I did in Wallbanger and trust me, that's saying something. 

Caroline, however, was a little hard to take in this book. Her career was on a whirlwind path, her relationship was flourishing, but she seemed ungrateful to me. When Simon began canceling trips to spend more time at home, she got more irritated with him and I, in turn, got irritated with her. Who complains about more time with the sexy Wallbanger, who just happens to be in love with her and treats her like a queen? I know she was stressed out, but she bothered me in this book, which is a shame because I adored her so much in the first. Her inner dialogue was still funny, but I didn't laugh out loud like I did in the first book. I did, however, swoon quite a bit. 

Despite my issues with Caroline, I still really enjoyed this book. She wasn't completely unaware of how she was behaving and redeemed herself by the end. Simon and Caroline have some really sweet moments as their relationship moves forward and they start off on another path together. They also have some fights, but none of them seemed overly-angsty or overly-dramatic and I was ultimately ok with it. As you probably expect, Simon and Caroline have some *seriously* sexy times in this book. Some of them left me fanning myself. Caroline is a lucky, lucky woman. 

I can't possibly review this book without mentioning Clive. This kitty is such a welcome addition to the book and I was glad to see he got a little adventure of his own this time. So freaking adorable. The epilogue was perfect and definitely gave me a good laugh. 

I just love this series. The characters are pure gold (even when they make me mad) and even the most minor ones add something special to the book. I'm looking forward to the next novel in this series. I hoped it would be about Sophia or Mimi, but it looks like we'll be introduced to some brand new characters and I, for one, can't wait. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

In case you didn’t know, I’m in love with Caroline and Simon. Like, seriously IN LOVE. I fell so hard for their story in Wallbanger, and I was desperate for more about them. And thank goodness Alice Clayton wrote Rusty Nailed!! I pretty much devoured Rusty Nailed in one sitting. I seriously don’t think I could ever get tired of reading about Simon or Caroline.

Rusty Nailed is a continuation of Simon and Caroline’s story from Wallbanger, so RN definitely should NOT be read as a standalone. Simon and Caroline have been together for a year, and life is… well, pretty great for them.

After a year, he could still bring me to my knees in seconds with one touch, one kiss, one look.

They still have sexy times, they still have those hilarious, sweet moments. Simon is off traveling the world most of the time because of his work as a photographer, but Caroline’s okay with that as she’s working hard at her job as an interior designer. The two of them have reached the point in their relationship where there’s not much angst or drama. I loved seeing how even though Simon is away many times throughout the year, the second he comes home, it’s like he and Caroline have never been apart. Simon is seriously the sweetest, and the two of them still have such a great chemistry with each other.

When you were in a long-distance relationship, of course you made the most of the time you were together. But sometimes, it was the unexpected that really made the difference. The unexpected emotions you were hit with when you saw that face, looked into those eyes, felt those lips. The unexpected reminder of why you fell in love with this person could hit you so powerfully. And this was that time.

We have Caroline and Simon’s friends’ stories entwined in the book too, which I was so happy about! Mimi and Ryan are engaged, Sophia and Neil have broken up (whaaat?), and Caroline’s boss Jillian is getting married. I love Caroline and Simon, don’t get me wrong, but their friends are so freaking hilarious!!! Caroline and Simon are funny enough, but add in the antics of their friends, and you have the laugh-out-loud humor that is an Alice Clayton classic.

So things are cruising along nicely for Caroline and Simon… until Caroline’s boss heads off on her honeymoon, leaving Caroline in charge of an entire business. Caroline has to work long-ass hours to keep the business running, but on the bright side, her boss left her in charge of a beautiful home to “house-sit” with Simon. Yeah, “house-sit”, as in have crazy monkey sex all over the place. ;)

Another aspect I loved about the book was how much more serious both Simon and Caroline were about their relationship. Simon is a very light-hearted guy–he’s sweet, funny, charming, and it’s enough to make us forget that he was orphaned at eighteen when his parents died. But in Rusty Nailed, we finally get to see the more vulnerable side to Simon–he finally opens up more about his past and his parents. Which only served to make me fall even more head-over-heels in love with this man.

But with Caroline getting more and more stressed over her temporary new job, and Simon getting contemplative about his and Caroline’s relationship, life’s not all sunshine and rainbows anymore. Caroline barely has any time to spend with Simon, and Simon is home a lot more now that he’s not taking many jobs.

Being half of a “we” is sometimes hard.

The two of them have to deal with what it means to be in a steady relationship, and it was so great to see Simon and Caroline discover that together. The two of them could not be more perfect for each other, so I was rooting for them all the way. They have their bumps along the road (i.e. some arguments, but nothing that a little lovin’ can’t solve ;) ) but when the going gets tough, these two don’t get going. They stay with each other, hash it out with each other, and do what real couples do–they talk (and have sex. Of course).

“I adore you, and I want a home. Again. With you.”~Simon

I have to say though, I didn’t love Rusty Nailed as much as Wallbanger. Did I expect to? Maybe… but just because I didn’t love this book as much as I did Wallbanger doesn’t mean I love Caroline and Simon any less. Pink Nightie Girl and Wallbanger for the win! The book did move too slow in some parts, where some communication could have easily solved everything, and Caroline was being too stubborn for too long. But still, how could I not love a book about Simon and Caroline? I really enjoyed reading more of their lives past Wallbanger–I was laughing and swooning the whole time reading. I can’t ever get enough of these two!

Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

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In this sequel to Wallbanger, fan favorites Caroline Reynolds and Simon Parker negotiate the rollercoaster of their new relationship while house-sitting in Sausalito. Playing house was never so much fun—or so confusing. With her boss on an extended 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. And with Simon, her hotshot photographer boyfriend, gallivanting all over the world for his job, the couple is heavy-duty into "absence makes the heart grow fonder" mode. No complaints about the great reunion sex, though! Then a trip back east to his childhood home has Simon questioning his nomadic lifestyle. He decides to be home more. A lot more. And he wants Caroline home more, too. Though their friends’ romantic lives provide plenty of welcome distraction, eventually Caroline and Simon have to sort out their relationship. Sure, more togetherness is a good thing—but does less traveling and working have to mean the other extreme? Apple pie and picket fences? With this second book in the Cocktail series, USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton delivers another delicious, frothy confection of a book, shaking up her characters, stirring in laugh-out-loud humor, and serving sizzling romance straight up!

Rusty Nailed

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