{Book Review} Screwdrivered (Cocktail #3) by Alice Clayton (@Alice_Clayton)

Readers back for a third round of the bestselling Cocktail series will enjoy a madcap romantic comedy about bodice ripping and chest heaving, fiery passion and love everlasting. Plus a dash of paperwork filing and horseshi—wait, what?

By day, Viv Franklin designs software programs. By night, Vivian’s a secret romance-novel junkie who longs for a knight in shining armor, or a cowboy on a wild stallion, or a strapping firefighter to sweep her off her feet. And she gets to wear the bodice—don’t forget the bodice.

When a phone call brings news that she’s inherited a beautiful old home in Mendocino, California from a long-forgotten aunt, she moves her entire life across the country to embark on what she sees as a great, romance-novel-worthy adventure. But romance novels always have a twist, don’t they?

There’s a cowboy, one that ignites her loins. Because Cowboy Hank is totally loin-ignition worthy. But there’s also a librarian, Clark Barrow. And he calls her Vivian. Can tweed jackets and elbow patches compete with chaps and spurs? You bet your sweet cow pie.

In Screwdrivered, Alice Clayton pits Superman against Clark in a hilarious and hot battle that delights a swooning Viv/Vivian.

Also within this book, an answer to the question of the ages: Why ride a cowboy when you can ride a librarian?

Viv Franklin is a pint sized, tattooed computer wiz kid who prefers reading steamy romance novels to going on actual dates. Despite her tough attitude and combat boots, she’s really just a starry-eyed artist at heart.  And now that she’s inherited the California seaside home of her eccentric Aunt Maude, she’s going to leave her life on the east coast and embark on a brand new adventure – come what may.

What Viv discovers is that a historic old house in a small town may be exactly what she never knew that she needed.

“Why in the world did I let myself get talked into another blind date?

Because you’re single, never been in love, and you’re Desperately Seeking Pirate.

True. I’d also take a cowboy. Or a fireman. Or an estranged prince separated from his royal bloodline by a ruthless uncle hell-bent on obtaining the throne, especially when it came along with the maiden princess from a rival kingdom, the most beautiful creature in all the land.  Too bad for the uncle that the maiden had been de-maidened by said prince on a bed of snowy-white down feathers.  And when the prince thrust into his lady love, her nails scored into his back like that of an eagle taking flight, a flight into passionate –

Whoa. No more Scotch.”

Clark Barrow is the director of the historical society and town librarian.  His job is to make sure that Mendocino’s newest resident doesn’t make any unauthorized changes to one of its largest and most beloved landmarks.  

She’s the most infuriating and intriguing woman that he has ever met.  But is intense chemistry and seriously hot phone sex with Nighttime Clark enough to capture her heart for good or will she fall for the wrong man?

“It doesn’t always have to be so hard.  Sometimes falling in love just means turning around and seeing what’s right in front of you.”

We’ve seen Alice when she’s sassy and smart but with Screwdrivered, we see Alice when she’s sweet.  Her characters and dialog are equally sharp but just a little more unique in this one and it’s really a breath of fresh air.  This is a slow and steady burn but just as fabulously satisfying…

Get The Cocktail Series!