Rusty Nailed (Cocktails #2) by Alice Clayton

Playing house was never so much fun—or so confusing. With her boss on her honeymoon, Caroline’s working crazy long hours to keep the interior design company running—especially since she’s also the lead designer for the renovation of a gorgeous old hotel on Sausalito. So with her hotshot photographer boyfriend gallivanting all over the world for his job, she and Simon are heavy-duty into “absence makes the heart grow fonder” mode. Neither has any complaints about the great reunion sex, though! 

Then Simon decides he’s tired of so much travelling, and he’s suddenly home more. A lot more. And wanting Caroline home more, too. Though their friends’ romantic lives provide plenty of welcome distraction, eventually Caroline and Simon have to sort their relationship out. Neither wants “out of sight, out of mind,” but can they create their own happy mid-ground cliché?

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This was a great next installment in Caroline and Simon's love story. We get to see them evolve as a couple and navigate the transition from the "honeymoon phase" to the "serious relationship phase." It has all the humor and spice that made the first book so enjoyable, with a lot more heart. Caroline becomes a much more dynamic character as she faces some serious decisions with career, while Simon grows as he faces his past. I think the characters and story line were much more mature than the first one, but Alice balances it well, keeping all the good stuff from the first book, while moving the story on to its natural progression. Because let's face it, the honeymoon phase doesn't last forever, and sooner or later, all relationships are tested. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.