Rusty Nailed

I loved Caroline and Simon in Wallbanger and I loved them in Rusty Nail as well.

There are some heartbreaking moments in their journey to another HEA but this is made up with a boatload of laughter, shenanigans and a heap load of steam. These two are literally at it like rabbits. Not only are you following Caroline and Simon's romance but you are also following the friends, it's basically a matchmaking book and this does follow the majority of the storyline.

Caroline and Simon have some hurdles that they have to endure and conquer along the way with new challenges hitting them full on. Simon has to learn how to actually be in a relationship and Caroline has to learn how to share her own space. These two live great together but are even better together when they live separate. As they start to get used to being in each other's pockets they both start to realise that some changes need to be made.

I didn't mark this 4 stars because boy was it lengthy and sometimes drawn out. Caroline's character was also very hard to follow at the start in regards to where her thought process was. I know she's crazy sometimes but she lost me a couple of times along the way.

Not as good as the first book but its still a very enjoyable read!

Surprised as how much I disliked this book. 1st one was fun, funny, sexy and absolutely enjoyable. This on the other hand was everything I don't like in a romance-plenty of sex and absence of relationship element.

First, I want to thank every single aspect in this whole world that enable Rusty Nailed to be written. From Alice Clayton (obviously), her parents, grandparents, relatives…okay, EVERYONE. Because I think I just found the love of my life.Rusty Nailed is the infamous Wallbanger’s sequel, and I’m telling you, if Wallbanger is great, Rusty Nailed is AH-MAH-ZING!First, let’s talk about this awesome, talented Alice Clayton, because holly molly! She can write like nobody business. Her writing can make you laugh your eyes off, while feeling all lovey dovey with all the steamy totally not G-rated scenes. It’s witty and gleeful and just simply is a pack of wonderful funny things wrapped together. And I absolutely adore the texts from the characters to each other. Alice Clayton did an amazing job on making them enjoyable and crazingly awesome!The characters are as awesome as ever! Simon and Caroline’s relationship is still progressing, as they move on to learn how to live as a couple, dealing with their new found love and the world that revolves around them. Their conversations and chemistry, as always, are priceless! And oh boy, the innuendos are straight out hilarious.Seriously? This book is one of my favorite NA books. The plot is amazing! Simon and Caroline’s relationship is #goals, and Clive, ahh… Clive who has replaced my childhood cat crush Pete. He is the pure source of awesomeness. He just walked into the book like a boss and literally stole every single reader’s heart!

Surprised that Clayton didn't write a break up for the main characters in this book. Still an excellent read and so happy about Clive!

It was alright. Definitely thought the first book was better. It was nice to see how Simon and Caroline handled being in a relationship together. There were times I wanted to strangle them both; but I was happy when they finally let their guards down and talked everything out.

I forgot how much I love this series. Chuckles throughout the book. Love it

It was cute as was the first book. More serious but, I liked it a lot.

3.5 stars. This book was funny, but Caroline was annoying in this one.

I don't know why but Simon and Caroline are just my favorite literary couple. I think it's their funny banter with one another. They seem to make each other laugh more than couples from previous books I've read. I like that. And it's quite possibly because Caroline loves to bake as much as Simon loves to eat! Either way they are just so loveable.This time around, though, they push the boundaries of their relationship a little bit farther. One might assume that the guy would be a little more reluctant to take that next big step, but surprisingly it's Caroline that has troubles. Caroline is also put on the spot at work, so she is just one big ball of stress. It soon starts to show through all aspects of her life. It makes you see just how much stress can really affect you and your life.Now, I love this book so much. I truly do. From the amazing characters to the unique way that it's written. I just couldn't give it that 5th star because I was left wanting more from certain situations. For example, we get to explore more of Simon's past a bit, yet we know practically nothing about his parents. Since that's obviously a big reason that ultimately shaped who he became as a person, I would have liked to hear more exact things about his parents. To continue on the lines of family, Caroline mentions how she used to spend holidays with family. Eventually, they do wind up on a holiday with her parents, but with the different way that that scene is written, we don't actually get to have any dialogue with them. Since she has family it would have been nice to see how Simon got along with them and how they think of him. We do get some slight tidbits both ways, like I said, I just wish there was a bit more.Ok, so I will finish off on a high note and say that I love how the next book, Screwdrivered, connects with this one. When I saw what the next book was about I was wondering why she continued it as a part of this series, but you just have to read this one to find out.

Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton(Book #2: Cocktail Series)Source: PurchaseRating: 5/5 starsWallbanger is back!!!! Still hot, still sexy, still in love with Caroline and . . .ready to settle down??? WTH??? The Wallbanger? Ready to settle down? Something must be wrong here . . . .For as long as she has known Simon, Caroline has never known him to talk about his childhood, his hometown or, the painful events that took him away from everything he once knew and loved. All Caroline really knows is that both of Simon’s parents are dead and once he left his hometown, he never looked back. In fact, Simon has spent most of his adult life traveling around the world and never staying in one place for long. On a whim, Simon decides to accept the invitation to his high school reunion and with Caroline by his side, he faces a long-overdue return to his hometown. From this point forward, everything about Simon and his perspective on the future changes. Caroline Reynolds is living the dream. She has a hot boyfriend who lives right across the hall, she has just been given a dream design job and, her boss has put her totally in charge of the firm while she is away on an extended honeymoon. With Simon constantly on the road, the added pressure at work shouldn’t be a big deal. She’ll work while Simon is gone and bang the walls when he returns. Everything is well in hand and just as Caroline wants it until the weekend of the high school reunion. From that point forward, everything changes and Caroline is thrown into a whole mess of reality that she just isn’t sure she is ready for. Simon is nesting, refusing new assignments and, becoming all kinds of domestic. He should since he bought a house!! Caroline is working non-stop: the interior design firm is flourishing under her command, her dream design job is ahead of schedule and coming together beautifully and, she is overseeing all of the renovations to the new house Simon bought. She should be since she moved in with him!! With Simon totally on one page and Caroline on another, life as the Wallbangers has suddenly become very adult, very serious and, very overwhelming. Oh, and the cat runs away The Bottom Line: Thank you, thank you, thank you Alice Clayton for this book!! Rusty Nailed is the perfect follow-up to Wallbanger, one of my favorite reads of 2013. Authors, pay attention because this is the kind of book a lot of readers look for – a continuation of a story with true evolution and resolution. Rusty Nailed is what comes next in Simon and Caroline’s story: the steaminess is still there, the sexy bits are still all kinds of sexy, the humor is still strong but, the characters are growing up and moving forward with their lives. Clayton doesn’t try to get crazy with this read and throw in some outlandish BS but she does throw real life problems and difficulties into the mix. I thoroughly enjoyed “watching” the drama unfold: Simon becoming all kinds of domestic and Caroline totally freaking out about how fast everything in her life with Simon is moving and finally, how the two of them sort it all out in a very adult way. In all, Rusty Nailed is just perfect and like Wallbanger, it is a favorite and one I can see myself reading again and again. Kudos to you Alice Clayton!P.S. Just in case you were wondering, yes, all of the other friends are back in this read too and funnier than ever. I can totally see how this series is going to continue on and continue to entertain those of us who are totally smitten with the Cocktail Series.The Series: Book #1:WallbangerBook #2: Rusty NailedBook #3: Screwdrivered (due September 2, 2014)Book #4: Mai Tai’d Up (due December 2, 2014)Book #5: Last Call (due January 6, 2015)

Hmm, Wallbanger was undoubtedly better hands down. In this one I found Caroline to be a little too nagging and for that the story dragged a little for me. Simon was enchanting and the grown up here in the relationship, different from when they first met. The chemistry was there and I really liked the storyline with Sophia and Neil.

A fantastic follow up to Wallbanger, Caroline and Simon are living their happily ever after in Rusty Nailed. This is the story of what happens after finding your soulmate. They love one another desperately, but finding room in life for each other proves to be a bit more difficult than either anticipated. I adored Caroline and Simon in Wallbanger, so I was thrilled when I heard the sequel was coming out. Totally going to name drop, but I was lucky enough to meet Alice Clayton in May at a Chicago book signing. Trust me, I tried to get some hints at what was to come, and she was a steel trap. Fantastically nutty and a girl you’d totally want to have a martini with, let me assure you. Simon and Caroline are going through growing pains in the months following the end of Wallbanger. Simon slowly becomes disenchanted with his life as a world traveler and wants to spend more time with Caroline. After traveling for years, he’s content to be at home. Caroline begins to question if he’s truly content or if more things are really happening under his tough exterior. I would strongly recommend reading Wallbanger before picking up Rusty Nailed. Irreverently hilarious and ultra sexy, Rusty Nailed is utterly wonderful. Alice Clayton has another hit on her hand!

I'm having a hard time deciding on a rating for this book. Yes, it was great and wonderful and funny, which should mean that I give it an automatic five stars, but I'm not sure if it deserves it. It was a pretty quick read, except that I didn't feel like reading it all in one setting--different from how I felt about Wallbanger.My first issue, which you may have already guessed, was the book length. It was a bit shorter than I hoped. I, like the lovely miss Caroline, felt rushed and overwhelmed by everything that was going on and how quickly it was happening. I don't like when what should be a light-hearted book has overwhelming feeling. I also don't like when it feels like a book is merely an outline of what it is supposed to be, which is one of the things that I was feeling toward the end of it. I wish that the next two installments in the series were devoted to Simon and Caroline, since I feel that there were some issues with their story that weren't developed enough. At the very least, it would be nice if the other two stories were about Mimi or Sophia and their beaus, because I feel like readers have more involved in those stories than they might have in the ones with the new characters. That's not the direction she went in, though, and it's her series, so I'll deal.And, like I said, it was funny, but it wasn't as funny as Wallbanger. That book had me snorting and laughing and giggling all over the place. While this book was funny, it wasn't that kind of funny. And I only gave that book four stars when I read it, so the lack of massive amounts of hilarity should have me giving this book a four or less. There were also some editing issues. I don't know whether to fault the author or her editor on this. For example, when describing Simon pulling up her pink nightie, she said that he had it up to her shin. I'm pretty sure that a nightie doesn't reach one's shin, especially if that same nightie was short enough for him to see her panties underneath it. I'm pretty sure that chin was what she meant, but it said shin and I couldn't help but feel like someone really missed the ball on that one. Overall, it was a cute and sweet story, but it just lacked something, so I'm downgrading it to a four. I shouldn't feel bad about that, but I do. I really wanted this book to be worthy of a five star rating, but it really wasn't. Maybe the next two books will be. I hope they are because I really adore the way that Alice Clayton tells a story.

RUSTY NAILED is the sequel to Wallbanger. Simon, Caroline, and crew are back. Readers are treated to the succinct high points of Simon and Caroline’s first year of couplehood in exotic locales before they get down to the nitty gritty daily grind of togetherness. Simon jumps wholeheartedly into committed monogamy with Caroline, even opening up about his past and childhood. I didn’t think it was possible but Simon is even more desirable as he grows and embraces with open arms everything about being a couple. Simon isn’t perfect but his growth, willingness to compromise, and genuine desire to make Caroline happy are a thing of beauty. Caroline has taken over running Jillian Designs while Jillian and Benjamin take an extended honeymoon. Her headfirst plunge into full blown adulthood professionally and personally occupy much of RUSTY NAILED, especially the professional aspect. RUSTY NAILED Caroline regresses instead of maturing and isn’t as appealing as Wallbanger Caroline. She improves toward the end but there’s much ado about nothing with Caroline this time around.A lot of the focus, when not on Caroline and how well she is or isn’t coping, is on Sofia and Neil. In this readers humble opinion their situation was truly a tempest in a teapot. All the drama and taking sides reeked of high-school and was beneath all the characters. Personally, I came down on the male side of this to-do.While there’s humor it isn’t as prevalent as it was in Wallbanger which had me snorting from laughing so hard. More humor and less manufactured silly drama would have been preferable.RUSTY NAILED was a quick, slightly disappointing read but I wouldn’t have missed Simon and Clive the cat for the world. Those two males made RUSTY NAILED for me.Reviewed by IvyD for Miss Ivy's Book Nook

Have you read Wallbanger? Yes? Read on...
No? Get the hell out of here. Turn around, read Wallbanger then report back.

Ok, not that is settled. Let's get to the nitty gritty here. And when I say nitty gritty, I mean Simon.

God love that man. He is the ultimate man whore turned swoon worthy love of my life character. I mean really kids, he is the bee's freaking knees. He is sweet, caring, understanding, funny as hell and sexy. He is the whole damn package and then some. And? He gives good sexy time. God bless Wallbanger.

Rusty Nailed is the story of Caroline and Simon tumbling from being in a relationship to being in what is looking to be a life-long relationship. Sure, they have ups, downs...etc. But at the core of this story it is Simon and Caroline proving they have what it takes to not only last, but to be awesome at it.

You know what I really, really loved about this story? Seeing two people so absolutely, totally smitten with each other. The overwhelming sense of "I am so damn lucky to have this person in my life" with them just made me grin. We all get pulled into the mundane of life, but if you are lucky, I mean really lucky, you get to spend that life with a person that makes you sigh when you see them. A person that you say "holy crap, how did I score THIS??" A person that feels the same way about you. That's Caroline and Simon. They are just so totally blown away by how amazing the other person is. THAT right there? That's a recipe for greatness.

Side characters also made this a fun read. The gang is all here, some happy, some struggling, all great friends. And of course we have Clive to bring us comedic relief. And we get to swoon over how much Simon loves Clive. Simon / Clive heart to hearts are some of my swooniest moments.

There is baking and shaking and love and strife. There are major changes, some good, some that are a struggle. In the end, it's all about finding their groove and getting on to the great business of loving life with each other.

Everyone should be so lucky!

I'm surprisingly disappointed and I'm not one to write negative reviews but I feel it must be done. I first have to say, I've read several of Alice Clayton's books, the first in this series was very funny, laugh out loud, witty and smart. Caroline and Simon were so much fun to read and had high hopes this would follow in the same footsteps.Rusty Nailed was an easy read but I kept waiting for something to happen. The story focus was on Caroline being in love and juggling her day to day (career, friends, love life, new place, her cat). It didn't draw me in but left me saying, Yeah...dont most people feel like we cant do it all? Most know that ideal is just that, good in theory but not realistic. More, do I care that the main character cant? No, I didn't. It was disappointing because I expected more substance. The author has shown in the past that she can give readers more. Overall, I liked the story but didn't love it.