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?
4 star Review by Lisa Kane
I adored Simon Parker and Caroline Reynolds in Wallbanger. (to be honest I think Clive stole my heart!) At the end of book one, our two hard pounding lovers were together, had declared their love and were more than likely enjoying one of Caroline's home baked pies and then standing against a wall for some real dessert!
In Rusty Nailed, Simon is still traveling the world, taking his fabulous pictures, but is keeping it in his pants and saving it for Caroline. She loves that he asks her to accompany her on some of his trips. She has her work, he has his, and together they have mind blowing sex.
After the Great Orgasm Hiatus, which in my mind is how it was officially known across the land, was she always there for me? Of course not, not every time. But mostly she was there, and mostly she was there for multiple Os, and sometimes she brought G with her. Those were the nights I damn near passed out. But while I loved the countertop sex, and the shower sex, and the kitchen floor sex, and the stairway sex-well, one night of stairway sex-the quiet sex was still my favorite. When it was Simon on top of me, letting me feel his good weight and his good love pressing down on me, inside me, all around me. And if on occasion the O stayed away, it was okay.
Caroline is assisting Jillian, her boss, who is getting ready to walk down the aisle with Ben. (Caroline's crush from Wallbanger). Her friends Mimi and Ryan are still together and are engaged to be married, but Millie and Neil aren't. Seems Neil met up with his ex girlfriend, enjoyed dinner and an after dinner kiss. He made the mistake of telling Millie about it, who promptly declared he was cheating on her and broke things off. He tried to get her to talk to him-epic failure. So now they play a game of one upmanship and take good looking dates to the events both of them will be at -trying to needle the other.
Caroline is offered an assignment of considerable responsibility-remodeling the upscale Claremont Hotel. Her boss seems to be so busy with wedding planning, that she is leaving the entire project up to her. As busy as she is, Simon is feeling a little left out; when he has been home in the past, Caroline would spend as much free time as she had with him, now her time is spent keeping her head above water doing these renovations.
Simon is still a little gun shy about spending time with Caroline's family. He makes sure for the holidays he has an assignment. But he also makes sure to ask if she wants to come with him. In this story, there are some poignant moments for Simon. He hadn't been to his home town since he moved after high school. When he lost his parents that year, he had no excuse to return. His high school reunion is an eye opener for Caroline-even as a teen ager, he had girls flocking to him and guys wanting to be like him.
There is so much more to Simon than meets the eye. He has layers he has covered up over the years, hiding beneath a fun time exterior. Caroline has X-ray vision when it comes to him and especially to his heart.
But the delicious angst and the curves life throws at them makes this book one of those that you just eat up with a spoon. Clayton is by far one of the funniest writers out there. Not only can she spin a tale, but she can write sex with humor. And make your stomach drop and your heart flutter. And make you sigh. Rusty Nailed is one of those kind of books.
"You're literally my fantasy girl." "Okay, it's getting a little thick in here." "Speaking of getting thick..." "Oh, kiss me, you big Wallbanger."
Clive is enjoying his man time with Simon, the two hang out often- Clive still runs the show and humans are the secondary characters. Of course, just as in the first book, he has to have the final word or words in this one too.
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