Maryse's Book Blog

Wallbanger
<—- And that title does NOT lie. I literally squawked with titillated glee when I read the title, and after reading the synopsis? I knew it absolutely had to be mine the minute it was released. After all, I loved this author’s “Redhead” series, so I had an idea of what I was in for.

“… When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick…”

Wallbanger lived up to it’s enticing synopsis, and then some. Exceeded all of my expectations. And as much as I loved the Redhead series, this one surpassed it. Rocked my world! I was grinning from ear to ear (my cheeks cramped!) and I couldn’t stop giggling. And sighing. Oh yes. *nods*  I crushed on the Wallbanger (I mean… “Simon”) HARD. Dreamed of him while I was sleeping. Brought him up on our Facebook page every chance I got. I finished this one last night, and I woke up with him on my mind. Oh sure… I know. I crush on all of ’em, at least a little bit, but often let “them” go almost as soon as I’m done. Or maybe I crush on them via the heroine’s perspective while I’m reading, but never fully… internalize that crush. They remain a “mini-crush” of the moment. Obviously amazing in their own right, but… I’m happy to let the heroine have him in the end. 😉

But Simon is real, to me. REAL I tell you! He’s out there biting whole chunks out of loaves of zucchini bread as we speak!

“You want me to cut you a piece — okay, or you could just do that.” I frowned as he took a giant bite out of the end.

“Thif if mine, righ?” he asked, spraying crumbs.

“How do you function in normal society?” I asked shaking my head as he took another monster bite.

LOL!!! *squeeeeee* He’s just sooooooo WOW!!!

He’s another one of those “100% guy” heroes who’s reactions and antics made me love him even more. The kind of “guy-things” that I could imagine might become irritating over the years, but with the right guy, never do. And that is SIMON! Another perfect hero in all of his imperfections, making me both happy for, and wickedly envious of, the heroine. To me, he’s one of those. If this was a series, I could really get attached. Just sayin’ 😉

So what’s it about?

Caroline gets the apartment of her dreams, only to realize that her neighbor is, umm…. quite loud with his nightly activities. So much so that his bed (which is just on the other side of her bed, separated by an apparently thin wall) bangs on hers. She also realizes that he’s… quite the ladies man.

The girl next door was meowing. What in the world was my neighbor packing to make that happen?

Many ladies, and many different vocalizations of just how much they appreciate… him. *blush*

I fell asleep that night after swearing I would bang back if I heard one more peep. Or groan. or spank.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

And one night, she has had ENOUGH! So she bangs on his door to “interrupt” him. And that’s where the real fun begins. Because he’s HOT!

His eyes were piercing blue, and cheekbones just as strong as the jaw. Completing the package? Kiss-swollen lips, and what looked like about three days of scruff.

Jesus, there was scruff. How had I missed that this morning.

I gazed down his long, lean body. He was tan, but not a premeditated tan – outdoorsy tan, weathered tan. Manly tan. His chest rose and fell as he panted, his skin coated in a thin sheen of sex sweat. As my eyes traveled down further I saw a smattering of dark hair low on his torso, which led below the sheet. Below the six pack. Below that V that some men have, and which on him didn’t look weird or BowFlexed.

He was stunning. Of course he was stunning. And why did there have to be scruff?

And well, so is she (especially in her pink baby doll nightie that she seems to have forgotten she’s wearing). And as they attempt to cope with each other (more like… antagonize each other)…

“I knocked a picture off your wall?” he asked, looking amused and proud at the same time. What a guy.

… they soon realize that they have mutual friends. Running in the same circles forces the mutual attraction to the forefront. Let’s just say, that the potential for “just being neighborly” is presented on a whole different level.

BUT OMG! My mini synopsis doesn’t do this story justice. AT ALL. This is a heartwarming, sweet, playful story about a possible friendship with the potential for a whole lot more. But you know… stuff gets in the way. She has issues… he has issues….. their friends have issues… 😉 Although not so much that you don’t love every single moment of it. All sorts of fun to be had!

And what I loved most? While it was extremely funny, it wasn’t just that. The character’s had depth, and the author bestowed us with a definite moment of angst. A few of ’em, actually. And deliciously intense romance. This is another one of those books, where the characters and their lives were so realistically detailed, that I could “see” and “feel” them pretty much right off the bat.

Me <— 100% connected!

Me <— 100% LOVED it!

5 stars! It may not be my absolute most favorite read in the whole wide world… but it’s definitely one of ’em. 😉

And it seemed to be that way for the majority of us. Just for fun, here’s a sampling of our gush-fest (and there is more where that came from, ’cause we gushed all OVER our Facebook page):

Maryse’s Book Blog: Omg I loooooove Simon soooo much! And I especially love his love of baked goods. I can’t stop grinning like a fool!

Angie: LOL he was great!!!

Melanie: finished it today…..LOVED IT!!!! It was my first Alice Clayton and I am so glad I found it =)

Patricia: i have gotta check out Simon if he has got Maryse grinning like a fool…

Lisa: Wallbanger was hilarious. It’s definitely high on my faves for the year.

Brandy: Only on chapter 3 or so and I can not stop smiling while reading it! My 2 1/2 yr old keeps asking me why I am smiling at my book!!! Ha Ha Ha

Jackie: 70% in……LOVIN’ it!!! Everyone should read Alice’s REDHEAD series too!!!!

Robyn: Lisa, if you loved it you must read her Redhead series, loved them, one of my favourite reads!

Chasity: I finished Wallbanger a few days ago and LOVED it. Just started the first Redhead book too! Edited to add – well that was yesterday, not a few days ago. My mind is gone!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Omg when he just started taking bites right out of the bread!! LOL! I adoooore Simon.

Chasity: I finished Wallbanger a few days ago and LOVED it. Just started the first Redhead book too! Edited to add – well that was yesterday, not a few days ago. My mind is gone!

Tracy: Alice Clayton rocks! I just read Wallbanger and loved it..the witty dialogue and the smoking hot chemistry between Simon and Caroline did it for me…5 stars!

Melissa: I am reading it now and loving it..the witty text messages back n forth…so much sizzle between these 2..ive been laughing out loud!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: They are TOOO CUTE!!!! He kinda reminds me a bit of the Bradford guys – like he should be related to them – which I love!! (R.L. Mathewson’s Neighbors From Hell boys)

Jennifer:  i agree!!! love the banter between them….loved the end from Clive’s pov!! 🙂

Tracy: Oh Maryse, I didn’t even think about that when I was reading…he does remind me of the Bradford boys…their bread and apple pie dirty talk cracked me up!

Theresa: Started it tonight and LOVING it! Was planning on getting some sleep tonight but don’t think it’s gonna happen!

Melanie: So for the ones of you that have read it, I just have to say that I will forever laugh my butt off whenever I hear “Welcome to the Jungle” in the future….I could not stop laughing and then couldn’t understand why people around me weren’t laughing too. LOL

Sara: Loved it! Still laughing at Clive attacking Simon! Lol is there going to be a book #2???

Melinda: Just started it again! Read it as fanfic and def worth paying for! Live Clive!!

Ray: Just finished it and I have to say it was very very funny – so not really one for the train! I snorted out loud so often that the lady sitting besides moved seats.

Jo: I loved it too! I want a Simon of my own!

Jody: Just finished it! *sigh*

Katie: Loving it!!! I think I like Clive the most. Her cat dialogue is so something that I hear my cats “saying.”

Erin: loved this book so much! laughed my butt right off

Melissa: Just finished it and I absolutely loved it!!

Ana: Me too. Love this book!

Emily: LOOOOOOVE HIM AND HER TOO!!!!! GETTING READY TO FINISH IT THIS AM!!! HER BOOKS ARE ALWAYS SO HILARIOUS!!!!!!

Yvette: Omg I love this book!! I’m almost done and I’m swooning all over him!! Oh and I love mr. Clive too!! Hehe

Tara: Hilarious!!!!! Educational too…Who knew what “machine-gun sex” was & that someone could “hijack your O”?!?! Loved

Suzie: I LOVE this book. I bought it on Tuesday (because you mentioned it) and finished it on Wednesday. I so wish there was a second book. I would love to see how it plays out with the traveling and all the new relationships.