Audiobook Review: The Redhead Plays Her Hand by Alice Clayton

The Redhead Plays Her Hand


The Redhead Series, Book 3
Alice Clayton

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Narrator: Keili Lefkovitz
Date of Publication: December 17, 2013
Abridged or Unabridged: Unabridged
Length of Production 6 hours and 26 minutes

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     Audible    Downpour

IT'S GETTING HOT (AND HEAVY) IN HOLLYWOOD!

Grace Sheridan is flying high. With scorching passion from her gorgeous Brit superstar Jack Hamilton plus the lead role in a new television dramedy, she could just pinch herself. Then a demand from her show's directors to drop fifteen pounds brings her back down to earth with a thump. Forced to subsist on air, cucumbers, and boot camp, Grace wonders if the body that brings the newly crowned "Sexiest Man Alive"; to his knees is just too booty-licious for Hollywood. Jack, meanwhile, seems overly enamored of the celebrity lifestyle. Forbidden by his publicity-conscious manager to reveal his relationship with Grace, he's hitting the industry party scene way too hard.

As Grace's bod incites fiery debate about the message of "thin is in" Jack's jealous fans are downing the hate-erade, viciously slamming her curves. Grace longs for Jack's support, but he's showing up late and disheveled to her most important moments. With tempers between them flaring, Hollywood's most talked-about redhead might have more to lose than a few stubborn pounds. She and Jack were clearly made for each other, but will the day ever come when they can walk the red carpet together, hand in hand?

This is the third book in the Redhead Series by Alice Clayton.  I totally adored the first two books, The Unidentified Redhead and The Redhead Revealed. Grace and Jack held me spellbound from their first introduction.  I'm not sure if this is the end of the series, but it felt done. I will miss Grace's smart mouth and Jack's easy going attitude.  You know a book is great when days after you finish it, you are still thinking about sections you read.

Keili Lefkovitz continued to do a fabulous job on the timing, inflection and delivery of the story. I felt like I was right there with Grace, going through everything with her. She totally brought Grace and Jack to life for me.

Where the first book was all about Grace and Jack falling in love, and the second book dealt with Grace's personal issues, this book went the next level - the public.  In this book, both Grace and Jack have to come to terms and deal with the publicity they are generating both as an are-they-or-aren't-they couple and as professional actors.  Grace is finally hitting her stride and is able to confidently handle the press.  Just in time of Jack to have his crisis.  Grace had her's in the last book, now it is time for Jack's. I will admit that I was like "Finally" when Grace and Jack "outed" themselves as a couple.

The dialogue between the characters remained witty, sarcastic and so very realistic. Grace and Jack had to deal with some very real issues in this book, but thankfully they came through them, stronger then ever. (What? You did realize that they would be together at the end, right? It's a romance for pities sake!) I gave this book 5 stars making this a Must Read (or Listen To) series.

Audiobook Review: The Redhead Revealed by Alice Clayton

The Redhead Revealed

The Redhead Series, Book 2
Alice Clayton

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Narrator: Keili Lefkovitz
Date of Publication: August 20th 2013
Abridged or Unabridged: Unabridged
Length of Production: 7 hours 18 minutes

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     Audible   Downpour

This is the amazing follow-up to The Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton. This book literally picked up where the last one left off.

Grace was settled into New York, and working on a new production that would be brand new off Broadway. She was reconnecting with an old college friend, creating a new character from scratch, enjoying her co-workers, but missing Jack.  Jack was in Hollywood, gearing up for the release of his new movie Time. The movie that their shared manager, Holly, is certain to launch him into the stratosphere of A-list celebrities. They are struggling to make a long distance relationship work, all the while keeping it under strict wraps. Plus Grace is still coming to terms with the fact that she is 9 years Jack's senior and he is hanging out with his ex-girlfriend, a very beautiful woman his own age.

The first book in the series was very romantic comedy; full of laughs and steamy smexy scenes.  This book was more contemplative. Grace's issues come to a head in this book and the couple will need to be able to honestly communicate with each other about their wants and needs as a couple.  Grace has to do some soul searching in this one.  I admit that I shed some tears and wondered whether Gracie and her George were going to make it.

Keili Lefkovitz did such a fabulous job of putting me right there.  The way she spoke, her inflections, pauses and dramatic telling of the story often made me think she was talking right to me. Sharing their story with a trusted girlfriend. She did such a good job, that I found myself unconsciously mimicking some of her phrasing and inflection in my own everyday conversations.

I wouldn't want to try and pick this book up without reading The Unidentified Redhead first, simply because this is a continuing story about a relationship between two people. So if you loved the first book, you will love this one as well. It was so good, I was literally sitting in my car at the end of the night, not wanting to pause the story until the next day.  5 star read, all the way.

LONG-DISTANCE LOVE JUST GOT HOTTER!

Life is sweet. Grace Sheridan has just won her dream role in a new off-Broadway play, and the talented hunk flooding her phone with scintillating texts and scandalous photos is Jack Hamilton, the twenty-four-year-old "it" Brit whose Hollywood career is about to climax faster than... you know. So what if their steamy relationship is bicoastal and under wraps, or that L.A. fangirls are grabbing Jack's ass?

Absence does make the heart grow fonder and the libido hotter, but their few weekend visits feel more more like fast food than the five-course dinner they crave. And then the creator of Grace's new show is the man who broke her heart back in college, and he seems to have written the play just to make amends with his leading lady.

As rumors spread that Jack and his lovely, leggy ex-girlfriend have gotten back together, Grace starts to wonder about her own feelings. Can lust alone keep our favorite, feisty duo together, or will Grace find herself back in safer, more familiar arms?

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The Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton


“Hello, yourself. Did you have a good time tonight?’ I asked, before shoving a Saltine in my mouth.

“Oh, no. Crackers … that’s never a good sign. Too much?” he asked.

“Maybe, if you consider three more than I usually have too much.” I grimaced, remembering the last time I was hung over. I was really not looking forward to tomorrow.

“I find that the best cure for a hangover is to just keep drinking,” he said, smirking. He walked toward the other side of the counter, placing his hands on either side of me.

“Yes, well, that’s because you’re like seventeen and capable of shit like that,” I said. “I, on the other hand, will wake up tomorrow feeling like something died in my mouth, with my eyes puffed up like cabbages,” I said with a chuckle.

“Wow, that’s a really descriptive picture. I’m almost tempted to stick around and see that.” He laughed. “And I’m twenty-four, not seventeen, for future reference,” he added. I arched my eyebrow at him.

Young pup. I used to be able to drink and dance all night, get one hour of sleep, and go to work the next day, still looking fabulous. Ah, to be young and foolish again.

You’re still foolish …

I stretched my arms over my head and then back behind me, trying to work the kinks out. When I looked back at him, I realized that I had basically just thrust my chest in his face, and he was letting his eyes linger.

“Are you looking at my boobies?” I asked, doing a little shimmy shake. He froze, and then burst out laughing.

“Yes, yes, I guess I am looking at your boobies. They’re quite nice boobies,” he managed to choke out between laughs.

“They are quite nice, that’s true. And all mine. You probably don’t get to touch a lot of real bona fide natural boobies here in L.A., but there’s still a few of us rocking the real stuff.” I laughed along with him.

“I also think you like men looking at your boobies. Why else did you put sparkles on them?” he stated, finally looking me in the eyes again, still chuckling.

“Sparkles, what are you talking about?” I looked down at the girls and noticed that I did have a few sparkles on my cleavage. “Oh yeah, I guess I did. I put on a little shimmer body lotion before I got dressed tonight.”

“Wow, girls sure do weird stuff. Especially you American girls. So much shimmer and sparkle. Who told you tits were supposed to sparkle? Sorry, boobies,” he corrected.

“You can say tits, although I prefer boobies. I also like Ta-Tas,” I said with a straight face.

“How about love pillows?” he countered.

“Breasticles?” I offered.

“Uhhh, how about Flap Jacks?” he asked, struggling not to laugh.

“Nice, but it doesn’t hold a candle to sweater meat,” I managed to get out before laughing so loud I sprayed Saltines all over the counter. He joined me, and I actually had tears streaming down my face as we started wiping up my cracker spittle.


This is one of the first scenes between Jack and Grace.  A lot of the book were these little witty back and forths between the characters and I totally laughed my ass off listening to this book.  I reviewed it yesterday for my Auditory Sunday Review.

The first in USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton’s Redhead series is a playful and erotic romance between an aspiring actress and Hollywood’s hottest new leading man.

When Grace Sheridan returns to Los Angeles to become a working actress, it’s a second shot at a life-long dream. With some help from her best-friend agent, will that dream become a reality—or at thirty-three, has Grace missed her chance at the big time? And when an unexpected sizzling romance with Jack Hamilton, the entertainment industry's newest “it” boy, threatens to shine an uncomfortable spotlight on her life, how will that affect her career…and his?

Funny, borderline neurotic Grace is perfect in her imperfections, and the sexual chemistry between her and charming yet blissfully unaware Jack is off the charts. With laugh-out-loud dialogue and a super-steamy romance that will get your heart racing, sneaking around in L.A. and dodging the paparazzi has never been so fun.

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN    Kobo     ARe

Audiobook Review: The Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton

I have been having such a great time looking for new reads to listen to and have on the hunt for things that looked interesting when I came across The Redhead Series by Alice Clayton. I read Wallbanger and loved it. Which of course meant that I would either love or hate then next thing I read by the author. When I saw the series, I figured "What the Hell?" and went ahead and grabbed the series. I am so glad that I did.

Grace Sheridan is 33 years old and back in Hollywood to give acting another shot.  She had been chewed up and spit out 10 years prior, went back home to the midwest, back to school, and got a "real" job. It's not until some friends take her to see the musical Rent for her birthday that she realizes how much she still wanted the dream she gave up on. So she started working towards getting back to that dream.

Her best friend since college, Holly, had originally moved to LA near the same time as Grace, but went into management.  She remained in LA and rose up the ranks to become one of the top managers for new talent.  When Grace decided to move back and give her dream another go, Holly invited her to stay with her until she got settled in.  The story opens with Grace trying desperately to pull the zipper on the skin tight badass jeans that Holly had talked her into buying. Holly is throwing a party to celebrate her new management company and Grace felt that she needed the mind set the jeans would give her.

It's at this party that Grace meets Jack Hamilton. Jack is 24, British, and getting ready to become a break out star due to a movie that will be releasing soon based on a serial story published in women's magazines about a time traveling scientist. A very hot, sexy scientist in a very hot, sexy story.  When Grace and Jack meet, they totally hit it off.

The amount of witty banter and sexy give and take was fabulous, plus the smexy scenes were OMG! hot. At one point while listening to this on the way to work, I had to pull the car off the road because I was laughing too hard to drive.  Grace is that funny, spontaneous, no filters, let-it-all-hang-out-there person that we all secretly wish we could pull off.  I loved being in Grace's head.  She had some of the funniest conversations arguing with her inner self.  Plus, the sarcasm.  Loved it!

Keili Lefkovitz did a great job with Grace. When I first started listening, I was a bit disappointed that there weren't specific voices for each character. I admit that I was looking forward to Jack's British tones. But after a bit, I found that she did such a great job on emoting for Grace and showing us the world through Grace's eyes and thoughts that I really didn't miss the British. It felt like I was Grace's best friend and she was sharing her story with me.  I wasn't watching this unfold from a distance. I was right there living it with her. Basically it boils down to this. I loved this book, from start to finish. Totally a 5 star read.

WATCH OUT, HOLLYWOOD!

Grace Sheridan is back. Ten years after discovering that looks and talent are a dime a dozen in Los Angeles, she's wriggling into a pair of badass jeans and ready to show the film industry that there's way more to her than just a head of gorgeous red curls. And Hollywood's newest Brit super-hunk Jack Hamilton certainly sees a lot to like. Grace is trying to restrain herself from jumping a man who is nearly a decade her junior, but Jack is making it clear that he personally has zero problems with that idea.

While Grace and Jack are still swapping innuendo-loaded quips and text sex though, the paparazzi have caught up with them, headlining the "unidentified redhead"; who's been photographed trysting at a restaurant with the heartthrob of the year. Now Grace is in stuck in a double bind. She's head over heels in lust with Jack, but there's her own career to think of as well. A sizzling romance with the newest "it" boy may garner her industry attention... but is it the kind of attention she’s always dreamed of?

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN    Audible

Review: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

I wasn't sure that I would like this book.  To be honest, with a name like Wallbanger, I just wasn't sure what I was going to get and the reviews were a little mixed.  I mean, a girl who has an issue with her neighbor because he has sex so loud that he actually bangs stuff off the wall?  With different women?  And the main character falls for him?  Really?  People either loved it or gave an "eh".  

For me, it was AWESOME!  I am a dialogue girl.  Give me good dialogue and funny, witty banter and I will keep reading.  This books was all about the funny, all about the witty, and all about the banter. 

With a title like Wallbanger, and a story about a woman who has lost her O, a neighbor who bangs the walls during sex, and them getting together, you would think this would be an erotic romance.  No, not really.  Oh, there were a couple of steamy scenes, but they weren't until the end of the book, and they weren't anything you wouldn't find in any other normal contemporary romance.  For me it was more sweet than steamy. 

There were some scenes that make you say, cliche.  Like 3 girlfriends falling for 3 guy friends. Everyone pairing up and staying friends. But hey, it is a fiction novel.  And they even state that seems far fetched and would only happen in a novel.  I didn't let that detract from the comedy of the book.  

Overall, this book was great.  I will be looking for other books by Alice Clayton and recommending it to my sister.  I know that she will enjoy it as much as I did.  I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.