
Author: Alice Clayton
Series: Cocktails #1
Published by: Gallery Books
Publication Date: February 14, 2013
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased


Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a Kitchen Aid mixer to die for, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O. Adding insult to O-less, she also has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Every moan, spank, and—was that a meow?—punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has—yep, you guessed it—no O.
Enter Simon Parker. When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has…well…mixed results. Because with walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick. A delicious mix of silly and steamy, this is an irresistible tale of exasperation at first sight.
Oh my gosh! I had no idea Wallbanger was going to be as funny as it was! I mean, I heard it was funny and sexy, but I grossly underestimated it. Honestly, with a title and cover like that, I was expecting … well, I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t that. Seriously, though, this book was a whole lot of fun!
Caroline recently moved into a fabulous San Francisco apartment, it’s perfect. That is until she is all snuggly in her bed, ready to go to sleep, and the thump thump thumping against the wall starts. Oh, it’s not just the banging on the walls, poor Caroline can hear everything that’s taking place right on the other side. And let me tell you, it’s pretty damn entertaining. Only thing is, all of her neighbor’s wall banging antics are putting a severe damper on her ability to sleep. To top it off, he has a variety of women he is getting down and dirty with, and they all earn fitting nicknames from Caroline. Not only is her neighbor’s extracurricular activities keeping her awake, they’re taunting her. She’s been in a sexual slump since a very unfortunate and unsatisfying liaison with an undesirable fella.
I love Caroline! The woman is hilarious, and I love that she’s the type of person who is comfortable traveling and going out alone. She is a secure, independent woman with an abundance of snark. And then we have Simon the Wallbanger. Sure, he sounds like bit of a manwhore, but I totally respect his situation, especially after getting the full story. Plus, the guy’s enthusiasm for baked goods was funny and added a whole little theme to his and Caroline’s relationship that I enjoyed a lot.
Caroline and Simon together? Now that was pure delight! The evolution of their relationship was so much fun to ‘watch’. They went from loathing each other, to forming a friendship, to … well, more. It all felt genuine, and they had such fun chemistry. I also appreciated how mature they were about each other’s escapades. Well, of course there was banter and teasing, but they still behaved like adults in that regard. But then when things finally got hot between these two, it was so on!
Wallbanger isn’t only about “wall banging.” Friendships play a big role in the book. Not just the friendship between Caroline and Simon, but the group that is formed with Caroline’s best friends and Simon’s best friends. I loved the whole setup and situation they find themselves in. Good times for sure! I was laughing so hard at the inner dialogues of everyone when they were in the car. And of course I can’t forget Clive the cat! I think I may forever associate the song Pussy Control by Prince with Clive now – haha!
Wallbanger was definitely pure entertainment! I’m pretty sure I smiled the majority of the time while reading it. It honestly felt as if I was reading a television show or a movie. You know how that is, right? It’s definitely a good thing. I even got one of my male friends to start reading it, and he’s enjoying it so far! Now I’m looking forward to reading Rusty Nailed, the second installment in the Cocktails series.
I am so glad this made you laugh. This book was such fun and I loved the chemistry, and banter.
Word, yo.
I love funny, sexy books. This one is so up my alley. Happy you enjoyed it.
Oh you definitely need to read read this, Jennifer.
I L-O-V-E-D this book. I bookmarked the funniest parts and would go back and read them and die laughing all over again. There were a few parts that I felt were overdone, overtalked, something, but mostly, I just loved it. I’m glad you liked it too. Great review!
Heh! Definitely looking forward to the next book, and I need to remember to highlight and bookmark!
Great to hear you loved the book, I’ve heard great things about it and glad it’s just not all “wall banging”! I think the author does hilarious heroines really well. At least there seems to be more story here than Unidentified Redhead.
It’s definitely funny and entertaining.
*Giggles* I have only read 1 1/2 paragraphs of your review and I already want to get it! I bet it was delightful when Caroline and Simon finally get together…. I just love the sound of this book! Thanks for that, another must read *wink*
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Oh yeah, Naomi, you definitely need to read this. So much fun!
I have had this book on my TBR list since I first read the blurb. Unfortunately its not yet available in my area. I plan to buy it as soon as I can and your review has just about tightened my resolve on getting this book ! Thanks !!
Aw, I hope you get to read it soon!
Right? I bought this when it first came out, and then I don’t know why in the world I got my head that it was a fifty shades copycat so I never picked it up until my friend Angela reviewed for the blog. OMG! I was as surprised as you to find how far from what I had imagined it is, I loved it 🙂
I assumed the same thing, thought it was more erotica. I’m glad I gave it a chance though.
This is exactly why I sometimes LOATHE review books (for about a half a second)… I really need to know HOW in the heck these two get together!!! I have the hard copy and I really want to take it to work and read it in the breakroom just to freak out the ladies!!! They all read the comfy and amish romance books 😀 tee, hee!!!
Review book can suck ass. Haha, not really. I’m just spacing them out more and being a lot more picky. My guy friend reads the physical copy in public and gets looks – lol. I’ll stick with my kindle.
I truly have been debating reading this one or not, I think because of the same “that” that you mentioned but I have been so curious about it and I just love good humor in books. I think reading your review swayed me, I have to give this one a try now.
You’ll like it, Ali. I thought it was going to be like straight-up erotica or something, but it’s not.
Sounds pretty awesome, Christy! 🙂 I think I bought it ages ago but still had no time to read it 🙂
Find time! lol
Oh, yeah! This one is one of the funniest! Awesome review!
Thanks, Grace. 🙂
I’ve had this sitting on my shelf for a while now because my sister in law raved about it and loaned it to me, and I’ve been a miserable book loan-ee because I haven’t read it yet. MUST CHANGE THAT! This sounds like such a fun read, and I’m glad friendships play as big a role as the, ahem, wall banging:) Can’t wait to read!
Uh-oh, she should start fining you like a library. 😀 You definitely need to read this, Jenny.
I’ve got this one on my tablet! I don’t know why I haven’t started it sooner. Definitely sounds like a fun one. And how funny you have one of your guy friends giving it a read. That’s pretty awesome. Glad he’s enjoying it too!
Yeas, you need to read it. Haha – he reads the physical copy in public and gets looks! I’ll stick with my kindle and hide my smut, thank you.
I read this awhile back and liked it too! Very cute, fluffy read with a beta hero which is almost non-existent in romance! And my favorite character’s definitely the cat. I want one just like him, lol. The epilogue made me laugh out loud!
Oh my gosh, yes. The epilogue was a perfect ending!
I loved Wallbanger-glad you enjoyed it too!
I know I grabbed a copy of this when I read Kimba’s review. I have got to read this. I need something hilarious to break me out of this reading slump. I am going to rearrange my schedule and get this worked in ASAP. Did you learn any new tricks to try? haha
Haha – I definitely wanted some zucchini bread after read it.
Hehe, I think I really need to get this and read it. Our first apartment had someone above us and we had to deal with kinda the same thing. We used to use the broom and hit the ceiling thinking it might slow them down down. Nope, no such luck. lol… Glad you liked and was a good read.
lol – I would’ve recorded them and then left it on their porch so they could hear what you hear. 😀
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this! It’s so hilarious and I just adore Clive. And I love the dynamic between Caroline and Simon. I think I might need to re-read this soon haha. Great review!
I can’t wait to get more of them in the next book.
I’m so excited she’s adding books to the series! I read this on a road trip and I have to control my fits of giggles because people are looking at me funny as it is. I don’t want them to think I totally lost it.
Same here! I had a couple people ask me what I was reading because I just could not suppress the smiles.
This sounds hilarious! I like that it’s an enjoyable book…sounds like something a friend of mine would LOVE. I might have to check it out too.
It is a good time for sure!
I’m so glad you enjoyed Wallbanger! I underestimated it too. You should try Alice’s Redhead series. I think it’s even better. Great review, Christy!
I’m definitely going to read the Redhead series too.
I put this off a while back, but I’m glad to know it was a fun read and that friendships also play a big part in it! I might have to pick it up again soon, Christy. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed this, this was such a fun read!
There’s a sequel soming too! 🙂
Haha, you’re right, looking at that cover, fun and humorous are the last adjectives I think would describe it 😛 I’m glad this book was an overall positive experience for you, Christy. I’m not into this genre much but if I want to read some of it may as well start with a read like this that would leave me in fits of giggles and laughter. Adding this to myTBR for future reference. Great post!!
I think you just added this one to my wishlist. You had me at funny! I love a book like that and it also sounds like it has a bit of substance for the characters. Yep, I should read this one! LOL
I heard this was a very fun read and entertaining 😀 so I cannot wait to read it!
Excellent Review Christy! I agree with everything you’ve said! This story was very fun, and entertaining! I loved Caroline as well, and her relationship with Simon, as well as the friendships in this story! I can’t wait to continue this series! I just know it’s going to be awesome!!!!
Thanks for that review Christy. I kept seeing that book and wondering if I’d like it. Now that I know it’s funny, I’ll grab it. Ta!
It really was a lot of fun. 🙂