Screwdrivered was pretty much everything you'd expect from an Alice Clayton novel, reads quickly and full of sweet, funny, and sexy. Some faves from previous books make an appearance, which is always nice. This one was a real slow burn, which can be both great and maddening at the same time. I liked that it diverted at least a bit from the typical romance formula. I miss Clive cat and his escapades from the previous books though! 

Cocktail, Book 3

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series

The Characters:

Viv Franklin:
Clark Barrow:
Hank the Cowboy, Jessica

The Story:

Viv inherits a beautiful beach house from her estranged, deceased aunt. In a life changing decision Viv decides to sell her small business restore the house and live as an artist in Mendocino. Her only roadblock is Clark Barrow, town librarian and town historian giving her hell at every turn of her renovation.

Now I wanted to like Viv and I mostly did but her constant romance novel narrative/constant fantasizing got to be annoying. I’m reasonably sure this was exasperated by the narrator's endless breathy voice and panting. It got old quick. I loved Viv’s passion when it came to arguing with Clark. It annoyed me that it took her so long to see thats where the good stuff was and to stop mooning over Hank. I can’t recall ever hearing why Hank and Clark had the kind of relationship they did. Was it just leftover hard feelings from school? I feel like Clark would be the kind of guy to mature past that by now.

Overall even though it was a great story I think I would have enjoyed it more by reading it instead of listening to it. I loved this town and the people in it. I also loved getting a visit from Caroline and Simon.


The Random Thoughts:



The Score Card:



3.5 Stars

Avery Bardot steps off the plane in Rome, looking for a fresh start. She's left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband in Boston and plans to spend the summer with her best friend Daisy, licking her wounds--and perhaps a gelato or two. But when her American-expat friend throws her a welcome party on her first night, Avery's thrown for a loop when she sees a man she never thought she'd see again: Italian architect Marcello Bianchi.

Marcello was the man--the one who got away. And now her past is colliding with her present, a present where she should be mourning the loss of her marriage and--hey, that fettuccine is delicious! And so is Marcello...

Slipping easily into the good life of summertime in Rome, Avery spends her days exploring a city that makes art historians swoon, and her nights swooning over her unexpected what was old is new againromance. It's heady, it's fevered, it's wanton, and it's crazy. But could this really be her new life? Or is it just a temporary reprieve before returning to the land of twin-set cardigans and crustless sandwiches?

A celebration of great friendship, passionate romance, and wonderful food, Roman Crazy is a lighthearted story of second chances and living life to the fullest.

Review

While I love the setting and the female friendship, I never settled into this book.

It felt more like Women's Fiction or Chic Lit than romance to be.

I am not a huge fan of second chance romance but I do like Clayton's sense of funny and banter. 

Sun drenched and fun.

I was given this book for my honest review. So., there you have it.