Mai Tai'd Up by Alice Clayton
Series: Cocktail #4

Published by Simon and Schuster on December 2nd 2014
Genres: Contemporary, General, Girls & Women, Romance
Pages: 272
Source: Publisher
Goodreads

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.

Chloe Patterson has always done what was expected of her. From her diet to her fiance – Chloe lives her entire life according to her mother’s wishes. But she wants more from life than the picture perfect husband, 2.2 children and a white picket fence. Determined to start making adult decisions for herself, Chloe moves to the small seaside community of Monterrey to start rescue home for abused dogs. She breaks her diet, her engagement and her own rules as she stands on her own feet. But as Chloe starts to build a new life around her she never expected to have feelings for the attractive vet who’s own romantic history is as complicated as Chloe’s..

Mai Tai’d Up is a fun, sexy and entertaining story about a former beauty queen, a gorgeous vet and some very adorable pit bull puppies. Although Mai Tai’d Up is the fourth book in Alice Clayton’s Cocktail series it works perfectly as a standalone. I’d not read any of the other books and I don’t think that at all hindered my enjoyment of Mai Tai’d Up. I wasn’t sure about this book going in. I’m not sure if it was the cover, the title or the blurb but I had the impression this book was going to be quite racy. Whilst Mai Tai’d Up is sexy and at time sizzling, this book was the perfect amount of sensual vs. story.

This book is a lot of fun. Chloe is trying to find her place in the world and she does it with a certain sense of humour and class. When things get tough she doesn’t give up and she shows that there is more to her than just pageants and tiaras. Her interactions with Lucas (the recently heartbroken local vet) are sweet, sassy and at times outright silly. Their banter was a joy to read and I looked forward to each and every time they shared scenes together. Their shared love of canines and classic crooners just added to their chemistry.

For anyone looking for a contemporary romance read with a sassy heroine who is finding herself in a cheeky story complete with scores of sexual tension, Mai Tai’d Up is perfect. Chloe is endearing and manages to come across as the perfect combination of capable and confident yet inexperienced and struggling. This book is a lot of fun and after reading Mai Tai’d Up, I’ll definitely be checking out the other books in Alice Clayton’s Cocktail series.

 

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia for the review copy