Read and Review #25 - Wallbanger (Alice Clayton)

Title: Wallbanger (Cocktail #1)

Author: Alice Clayton

Publication date: 27 November 2012

Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis: 

The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she's gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor's nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy's athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly... 

n a delicious mix of silly and steamy, Alice Clayton dishes out a hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight...

My rating:
5 / 5

My review:

Oh dear, this book. It took me almost a year to pick it up again. I had a dislike towards silly nicknames and was immediately turned off whenever I encountered any in the books I read. Pink Nightie Girl was one of them. Yes, I put it down the moment I found myself squirming from the absurdity of the name.  

And just recently I began to read it again. And I wondered, why in the hell would I hate a nickname such as Pink Nightie Girl? The fabulous that is this story is enough to outshine a small thing like a nickname. Well doesn't matter, I had read it and I absolutely love it! Not to mention most of my friends on Goodreads give an average rating of 4.5 for it.

Why is this book so good that almost everyone give it an almost perfect rating? I'll tell you why. There is no tragic backstory. No one is running away from anyone. Well, unless you count Cory, the guy who chased away O.  And therefore making Caroline wanting to run away from him. By the way, O is Caroline's orgasm.

ANYWHO, it's a likable story because the characters were not hung up on past relationship or experience emotional trauma from any form of abuse. Their feud was simple; "Stop banging on my fucking wall when you're having sex." So if you're looking for a book with no angst or drama, this is the perfect book for you.

Caroline was witty, sweet and funny whereas Simon exudes sex; flirty, charming and charismatic. They became from neighbors to enemies to friends to best friends and eventually lovers. I mean, that is how you become close to that hot neighbor, right?

And the sexual tension in that one chapter! The only chapter where we get to see Simon's point of view but somehow I got cockblocked by Ryan and Mimi instead. Don't get me wrong, I adore the other couples but please, it was the post breaking point of Simon and Caroline's relationship! 

It's funny, witty and I stayed up till dawn trying to finish this book. These characters are likable, the plot is hilarious and who doesn't love a reformed wallbanger? Despite the name, the book cover and the first chapter of this book, it's not as erotically charged as other romance books out there. Not even in the last few chapters. It's a fun book and definitely worth reading. 

Upcoming Release #2 - Maybe Someday (Colleen Hoover)

Title: Maybe Someday

Author: Colleen Hoover
Expected publication: 18 March 2014
Publisher: Atria Books
Pre-order a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, This Girl, and Losing Hope, Maybe Someday is destined to become another bestseller and long-lasting fan favorite.

Initial thoughts:

Based on the books that I've read by Colleen Hoover, I know that I'm in for some emotional roller coaster ride. Good writing, epic soundtrack as usual which totally reminds me, this book already has a soundtrack. No, it's not a collection of songs from various artists made into a playlist. But a real soundtrack. Here are the list of songs in the soundtrack.

Clickety click on this link!

Every girl loves a guy who can play a guitar. And Ridge already won me over with his acoustic skills. All of Ms. Hoover's male lead have managed to capture my heart; Holder, Will and Daniel. And I am ready to make space for Ridge as well. 

Read and Review #20 - Truce: The Historic Neighbor From Hell (R.L Mathewson)

Title: Truce: The Historic Neighbor From Hell

Author: R.L Mathewson
Publication date: 1 November 2013
Publisher: Smashwords
Get a copy! Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

This is the story before everything..

Elizabeth knows what’s expected of her, perfection. She’s the daughter of an Earl and expected to marry well, say and do the right things with a smile on her face when inside she’s dying for a chance to escape. Thanks to an inheritance her godmother left her years ago, her chance will come with her next birthday. Her hopes of escape abruptly end when Robert, her childhood nemesis that she hasn’t seen in over fourteen years, comes back into her life and does everything he can to drive her out of her mind even as he steals her heart.

He hated her.

At least, he tried to hate her, but it was so damn difficult to hate someone that he couldn’t live without. He tried to ignore her, tried to focus on anything but her, but nothing worked. Somehow she made her way into his heart and started to make him want things that he never though possible, made him smile and laugh even while she drove him out of his mind and started a legacy by turning him into…..

A Bradford.

My rating:
4 / 5

My review:

I started reading this with a friend, Stephanie who actually finished it faster than me. Sorry I took my time reading it. 

Truce is a historical romance; the beginning of the Bradford clan and tells a history of their great appetite. It tells a story of Elizabeth and Robert Bradford who were childhood enemies up till they were forced to marry out of convenience. 

So basically, like all the books in this series, the hero and heroine hate each other. Hate and love have something in common, passion. And I definitely saw passion between Elizabeth and Robert. She refused to have an arranged marriage and would rather wait to receive her inheritance. Robert would rather not marry at all. Typical hero and heroine of the 19th century British aristocracy. 

When they crossed paths again, they met as strangers. And what do you know? When they don't hate each other, they are actually good for each other. One thing led to another and well, let's just say it was pleasurable.

As the story progress, Robert and Elizabeth's relationship began to develop outside their hatred for each other. Passion was always brewing between them but instead of hating each other, they took a 180 turn in their feelings for each other. Did I ever mention that sex with a Bradford man is hot? No? Okay well, not to be disappointed because them boys got their genes (along with their love-making skills) from this man.

I give it a four star because of the writing. I read a lot of books by authors who write both contemporary and historical romances and still manage to feel the differences in their books. However, while reading this one it has that contemporary feel to it that rubbed me the wrong way because I really love how historical romances are written. Maybe 1940s-50s Western but not exactly 1800s British society. It's a good and entertaining read, fully recommended for anyone who loves the Neighbor from Hell series. A refreshing change from the contemporary ones.