Book Spotlight : Mai Tai'd Up (Cocktail, #4) by Alice Clayton

Mai Tai'd Up

Cocktail #4

By: Alice Clayton

Published: December 2, 2014

Publisher: Gallery Books

Source: Publisher

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GR's Summary:

Looking for the perfect mix of smart, sexy, and sassy? Mai Tai’d Up continues New York Times bestselling author Alice Clayton’s Cocktail series, which began with Wallbanger and continued with Rusty Nailed and Screwdrivered. 

The gossip mill in the seaside community of Monterey is churning about Chloe Patterson, the newcomer who is starting a sanctuary for rescued pit bulls. It’s rumored that she’s a former beauty queen (true) who ditched her fiancé the morning of their wedding (also true). And that while she’s not looking for a new man, the good-looking local veterinarian has his eye on her. Absolutely, positively true. 

When Lucas Campbell isn’t at the family veterinary clinic, he’s paddle boarding in Monterey Bay. Recently single, he’s definitely not in the market for a new relationship, but he still can’t resist taking a second, third, and fourth look at the recent arrival of Miss Golden State. 

Neither Lucas nor Chloe has any interest in being tied down. Being tied up, however—now there’s a thought. But are a few Mai Tais, a moonlit night, and the music of Frank Sinatra enough to allow them both to forget their past? Let’s hope Ol’ Blue Eyes knows what he’s doing. 

Mix one part tiki, one part kinky, and a splash of old black magic matchmaking, and it’s time to be . . . Mai Tai’d Up.

Cocktail Series:

My Review on Wallbanger Here

My Review on Rusty Nailed Here

My Review on Screwdrivered Here

Book Teaser:

My Thoughts:

After completing the Cocktail Series, I can say one thing with certainty; I would consider myself privileged to read anything that Ms. Clayton has written.  All of her books have that special spark, that make a book come to life.  They transport you in to a wonderful escape full of witty entertainment, humor at it's best, colorful characters, and addictive plot lines.

Mai Tai'd up was as wonderful of a read as I was hoping for.  In this installment, we get Chloe (Clark's cousin,) and Lucas' story.  Chloe is about to get married to Charles, a hotshot lawyer who appears to have what every girl would dream of on paper.  However, Chloe is not "in love" with Charles.  Their relationship lacks passion and excitement.  Therefore, she realizes that she cannot marry him.  She needs space and change in her life.  The opportunity presents itself, when her father, Thomas, offers for her to use their vacation home in Monterey.  While there she sets up an animal rescue for Pit Bulls.

When she gets to Monterey, Chloe, has the pleasure of meeting and working with gorgeous veterinarian, Dr. Lucas Campbell.  Lucas is still getting over the fact that his long term girlfriend, Julie, left him at the alter on their wedding day.  It becomes clear that both Chloe and Lucas share an attraction, and intense chemistry.  However, they know that they are not in a place to embark on a new relationship, and don't want to be each other's rebound; so they decide to become friends.  Pretty soon they are spending nights and weekends together, as as their friendship grows, so do their mutual feelings for one another...

Mai Tai'd Up was an excellent addition to the Cocktail series.  I loved Chloe.  She was a very memorable character, and made a huge amount of character growth.  She went from her controlling mother dictating her life, to taking charge of her own future happiness.  I loved her compassion towards the injured Pit Bulls, and thought that she was a really funny character.  Lucas was a great character as well.  I enjoyed the interactions between Lucas and Chloe as they had fun spending time together, and trying new things.  We get an appearance by Viv and Clark, and it was one of my favorite parts in the story.  Viv is hilarious!!!  We also get to see Sophia and Neil again, and the entertainment factor was at an all time high!    

My Rating:

I give, Mai Tai'd Up, by Alice Clayton, 4.5 Friendship First, Romantic, Funny, Ole' Blue Eyes Filled Stars!!!  Read this series! It is excellent!  Superb!  Phenomenal! 

Casting:

"Chloe"
(*She refers to herself as looking like Christie Brinkley in the book.)

"Lucas" 
(As Ms. Clayton see's him)

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About Alice Clayton:

Novelist Alice Clayton makes her home in St. Louis where she enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up after, and is trying desperately to get her long-time boyfriend to make her an honest woman–and please buy her a Bernese Mountain dog. 

After working for years in the cosmetics industry as a makeup artist, esthetician, and educator, Alice picked up a pen (read laptop) for the first time at 33 to begin a new career: author. Having never written anything longer than a grocery list, she soon found writing to be the creative outlet she’d been missing since walking away from the theater 10 years before. 

She has a great time combining her love of storytelling with a sense of silly, and she was shocked and awed to be nominated for a Goodreads Author award in 2010 for her debut novels, the first two installments of The Redhead Series–The Unidentified Redhead and The Redhead Revealed. Her latest novel Wallbanger is a return to her trademark comedic erotica, or funny smut, that Alice has become known for. 

Additionally, Alice loves spending time with her besties on Not Your Mother’s Podcast (check them out on iTunes) and has recently partnered with actor Greg Grunberg, blogger Brittany Gibbons, and actress Keili Lefkovitz on a new travel show that will begin filming in January. 

Alice enjoys pickles, Bloody Marys, eight hours of sleep and a good pounding.

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