Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren ~ Review & Teaser Tuesday (@seeCwrite, @lolashoes, @SimonSchusterAU)

Writing duo, Christina Lauren, have done it again with another addictive read in the Wild Seasons series. I love being in this world and seeing Mia's ex fall for carefree London.
Wicked Sexy Liar (Wild Seasons, #4)
Title: Wicked Sexy Liar
Author: Christina Lauren
Series: Wild Seasons #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 2nd 2016
Buy Now - Amazon | B&N Kobo

For two people ambivalent about dating and love, they sure get naked around each other an awful lot . . .

London Hughes is very content to surf daily, tend bar, hang out with her group of friends, and slowly orient herself in the years after college. Everything’s going great and according to the non-plan.

But when a wave knocks her for a loop one morning, then Luke Sutter’s flirtatious smile knocks her for another that evening, she veers slightly off course…and into his path. Sure, he’s a total player, but the Why not—it’s only one night is a persistent voice in her ear.

For his part, Luke’s been on hookup autopilot for so long that he rarely ever pauses to consider what he’s doing. But after an amazing time with London, he realizes that he hasn’t been moving on from a devastating heartbreak so much as he’s been drifting to wherever—and whomever—the current takes him. With London he wants more.

Every relationship involves two people…plus their pasts. And as much as she enjoys her fling with Luke, when London learns about his past—more specifically, who’s in it—everything becomes the brand of complicated she strives to avoid. It’s up to Luke then to change some things in order to try and ensure he’s not something she’ll outright avoid as well.

In February 2015, I posted my reviews for the first two books in the Wild Seasons series on the blog, but somehow I’ve skipped the third book – Dark Wild Night – and dove straight into Wicked Sexy Liar, London and Luke’s story in this sizzling and entertaining series!

I have enjoyed the books that I have read in this series so far, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed Wicked Sexy Liar. Both the main characters had been hurt by love before and were hesitant to go through that again. Luke was a bit of a playboy and slept around a lot since he split from his long time girlfriend. London was scared to let anyone in after how her previous boyfriend deceived her. Their first night together was supposed to be a onetime thing; Luke made a mistake that London didn’t correct him on, but she didn’t care enough to make it right. But I found when these two were together they were able to relax, leave their heartache at the door and be swept away in the moment.

I liked seeing their relationship develop, despite their denial about it. They both had feelings for one another but their pasts held them back. London found it hard to trust Luke but enjoyed being around him, seeing more to him than what he usually portrayed. Luke didn’t know how to deal with just one woman anymore. He’s used to being carefree and enjoying the pleasure of random women, but the more time he spent with London, the more she consumed his mind.

London and Luke’s story was told beautifully and I loved learning about them. I was able to see why they held back but together they faced some fears that they would avoid at all costs. I loved seeing all my favourite characters again from the previous books in the series and how their storylines entwined with Luke and London’s. The bonus story in the back featuring Not-Joe and Perry was fabulous too, and I cannot wait to get more about those two!

Complimentary copy provided by Simon & Schuster Australia in exchange for an honest review.


Hehe... the flirty banter between Luke and London was a lot of fun!! 

Following me with his eyes, he asks, “So is this no-dating-guys-you-meet-at-work thing, like, an actual rule?”
“Sort of.” I fold the bar towel and tuck it into the back of my apron, meeting his eyes.
“What if I promised I was absolutely worth it?”
Why do I think he is absolutely telling the truth? He smiles shyly, but behind his honey-brown eyes, I can see he’s still hunting.
“I’m sure you’re amazing.”

Paperback Page 22


Hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm
Yes, there are two of us! Lauren (on the left) and Christina (on the right).

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced nine New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 23+ languages.

Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, bestie to a shoe-stealer, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.

Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. These days you’ll probably find her on tumblr. She is married and absolutely not old enough to be the mom of a 14 year old (right??), thinks she’s the luckiest person in the world to write books with her best friend, and is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter. She also likes to steal Lo’s shoes.

You can follow their shenanigans at:

@lolashoes (Lauren) & @seeCwrite (Christina) on Twitter. On TumblrWhere we post kissing gifs and writerly stuff and Wattpad for short stories and sneak peeks!


For official information about their books, events, interviews, movie news and more, follow @christinalauren.





Other reviews featuring Christina Lauren
Beautiful series
Dirty Rowdy Thing #2 
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The Year We Hid Away by Sarina Bowen ~ Review & Quote-tastic (@SarinaBowen)

After reading the first book in The Ivy Years series, I had to pick up the second book because I just loved Bridger! He was such a great guy to read about!
The Year We Hid Away (The Ivy Years, #2)
Title: The Year We Hid Away
Author: Sarina Bowen
Series: The Ivy Years #2
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Published: May 26th 2014

Buy Now - Amazon | B&N Kobo

She’s hiding something big. He’s hiding someone small.
Bridger Macaulley used to be a player both on and off the ice. But now, while his teammates chase the next hockey victory, Bridger worries that the dean will discover he’s housing his eight-year-old sister in his dorm room. Juggling a full course load and a big secret, it’s only a matter of time until the other skate drops.

Scarlet Crowley is the only freshman at Harkness College who had to sneak past TV news trucks parked on her front lawn just to leave town. Her name is as new as the shiny student ID it’s printed on. The only way to survive college will be to conceal her identity, even if it means lying to the green-eyed boy she's falling for.

Bridget and Scarlet form a tentative relationship based on the understanding that some things must always be held back. But when grim developments threaten them both, going it alone just won't work anymore. And if they can't learn to trust one another now, the families who let them down will take everything they've struggled to keep.

After reading The Year We Fell Down, I knew I had to continue the series because I absolutely loved Sarina Bowen’s writing style and her character building. In The Year We Hid Away, it features Bridger, Hartley’s bestfriend in the first book, and Scarlett, a new character with a massive family issue.

I fell for Bridger in the previous book and I loved getting to know him more in his own book. He’s such a sweet guy, considering his past, and he’s stepped up this year and taken on more than what most people his age are willing to do. Scarlett was eager to leave home with what has been going on at home. She’s lonely and wants to move past her family’s drama. I loved seeing her sprout wings and grow, doing normal things that people her age usually do.

However, both character’s have difficult family issues that continue to arise. Bridger had no intention of falling for anyone and starting a relationship, but he soon realised it was inevitable. His feelings for Scarlett were deep and she turned out to be someone he could count on in hard times. After meeting Scarlett’s mother and seeing what she ran from allowed me to understand Scarlett better. She had it hard with her family but there were many more secrets that she uncovered.

Both Scarlett and Bridger’s individual journey’s were difficult; they had a lot of demons to face and found it hard to accept help from others. I liked seeing the trust grow between them and how comfortable they became with one another. The way that Sarina Bowen wove this story together was not easy and she touched on some delicate issues that no person should ever have to go through. I enjoyed how the story tied up, even though it seemed too perfect that everything fell into place, it was sweet to see both Bridger and Scarlett get exactly what they needed. 


I enjoyed seeing Scarlett through Bridger's eyes. He was a sweet, caring guy!

Scarlet was shy. Her idea of a “come hither” look was to study me out of the corner of her hazel eyes. And then her cheeks would flush, and she’d look away. But when I pulled her into my lap and kissed her neck, she melted like warm butter. And when I laid her back on the bed, she reached for me, kissing me as though she was dying of thirst, and I was the last drink on earth.

Kindle Page 77

Hosted by Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup

Sarina BowenSarina Bowen is the USA Today bestselling author of steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction. She lives in the wilds of Vermont.

She is the author of The Ivy Years, an award-winning series set amid the hockey team at an elite Connecticut college. Also, the The Gravity series.

With Elle Kennedy, Sarina is the author of HIM and US.






Other reviews featuring Sarina Bowen
The Ivy Years series
The Year We Fell Down #1
read more "The Year We Hid Away by Sarina Bowen ~ Review & Quote-tastic (@SarinaBowen)"

Naomi’s Weekly Wrap Up 185 ~ Life is Busy!

Another busy week in our household! My daughter went to her zone athletics carnival and finished 2nd in her 800m race. We are off to State in October. My youngest had a school excursion as well. 
I have been a little slack bloggingwise again this week, but I PROMISE to get on top of everything next week and visit everyone! 
The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen ~ Review & Quote-tastic 
Derision by Trisha Wolfe ~ Review & Teaser Tuesday
The Dom Games by Rachel Robinson ~ Excerpt & Giveaway
Wild Abandon by Jeannine Colette ~ Review & Swoon Thursday
Play Your Heart Out by Crystal Kaswell ~ Excerpt & Giveaway
The Year We Hid Away by Sarina Bowen ~ Review & Quote-tastic
Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren ~ Review & Teaser Tuesday
Waiting On Wednesday #195
Just for Now by Abbi Glines ~ Review & Swoon Thursday
Reckless Beat Boxed Set ~ Spotlight
Dirty Shame: A Bad Boy Romance (Bluefield Bad Boys Book 1)Dirty Talk: A Bad Boy Romance (Bluefield Bad Boys, #2)Dirty Secret (Bluefield Bad Boys, #3)
Emerge (Evolve, #1)Embrace (Evolve, #2)
Dirty Shame: A Bad Boy Romance (Bluefield Bad Boys #1)
Dirty Talk: A Bad Boy Romance (Bluefield Bad Boys #2)

Dirty Secret (Bluefield Bad Boys, #3)
by Tess Oliver
Emerge (Evolve #1)
Embrace (Evolve #2)
by S.E. Hall



Game Player (Game, #1)Game Maker (Game, #2)
Game Player (Game #1)
Game Maker (Game #2)
by B.J. Harvey



Dirty Sexy Secret (Green County, #1)
Dirty Sexy Secret (Green County #1)
by Nazarea Andrews

Naomi’s Weekly Wrap Up is a combined meme with the Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book ReviewerBought, Borrowed and Bagged hosted by Braine @ Talk Supe and Stacking The Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.
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Play Your Heart Out by Crystal Kaswell ~ Excerpt & Giveaway (@CrystalKaswell, @XpressoReads)

The forth book in the Sinful Serenade series has now been released. I really liked the first book and had to share the release of the newest book in the series. I think I'd really like Pete!! 
Title: Play Your Heart Out
Author: Crystal Kaswell
Series: Sinful Serenade #4
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Published: May 24th 2016
Buy Now - Amazon

He parties like a rockstar.
She's there to make sure no one finds out...

Jess James has her eye on the prize. She is finding the money to pay for law school. Period. It doesn't matter how lonely she feels three thousand miles from home, how exhausted she is from working overtime as a cocktail waitress, or how deep the knife wound in her back cuts. She is going to be a lawyer, whatever it takes.

Only she doesn't have what it takes. She can barely afford to pay her rent.

Sinful Serenade bassist Pete Steele has enough to pay Jess's rent and buy her a small island in the Caribbean. The famous, talented rock star has everything... except the one thing his manager wants. Pete rose to fame as a devoted boyfriend. Doesn't matter that his ex slept with his best friend. He needs to stop screwing his way through Los Angeles to keep the record company happy. The sweet blond waitress is exactly the girl he needs on his arm if he wants to clean up his dirty reputation.

Their arrangement is simple: he pays her tuition, she plays his girlfriend. They'll lie to the world, but not to each other. Especially not when they're alone, in his bed, him figuring out exactly which buttons to push to get her moaning his name.

Jess is good at keeping up appearances. She can play the enigmatic rock star's girlfriend. But Pete shouldn't play games with a girl who's been broken before...


For twenty minutes, I soak in the warmth of the sun, the soft breeze on my arms, the sharp aroma of fresh cut grass.
There are footsteps. Someone sits next to me. I don't need to look up to know it's Pete. I can feel his presence in the way my shoulders relax.
Even when he frustrates me, he makes me feel like I can float.
His fingers brush the back of my hand. "You excited?"
I take a long look around the quad, memorizing the shape of the tall trees, the red brick of the main building. "This is the next three years of my life."
He moves closer. Until our shoulders are touching.
Still, I keep my eyes on the school. Looking at him is too risky. I might mount him right here on the grass.
He drags his fingertips over my forearm. Damn musicians and their masterful hands. I'm already flushed and wanting.
"Any chance you're taking up entertainment law? Like you a lot more than our current lawyer," he teases.
"No. It pays well but it doesn't interest me."
"Atticus Finch doesn't argue royalty percentages."
My stomach flutters. He remembers what I said about To Kill a Mockingbird. "Am I that obvious, wanting to be a defense attorney?"
"You want to get murderers off. Cold. Exactly what I expect from you," he teases.
Finally, I look at him. Damn, the affection in his deep brown eyes takes my breath away. How can he have his guard down so quickly when it was up so high last night?
I run my fingertips over his chin. I can't help it. He's beautiful.
I make my voice as confident as I can. "Only person I want to get off is you."
His lips curl into a smile. "Only if I get you off first."
My cheeks flush. I want to. But I can't deal with him closing off again. "You bailed yesterday."
He says nothing.
Okay. That's not the best sign. I study his expression for a clue to his intentions, but the only thing I can place is confusion.
"Why did you do that?" I ask.
"I was thinking."
"About."
He moves closer. His eyes fix on mine. "You haven't told me why you want to be a defense attorney."
"I guess it started before To Kill a Mockingbird. My friend, Kathryn—"
"The one who sleeps around?"
I laugh. "That one. We've been friends since kindergarten. She got bullied a lot. One day, I think it was third grade, a few of the popular kids ganged up on her and starting a fight. When the teachers broke it up, the popular kids all said Kathryn started it. Nobody listened to her. They barely gave her a chance to defend herself. It wasn't fair. Everyone deserves a defense."
"What about your ex?"
"It's not a crime, being a cheater or an asshole."
His brow knits. "But if it was?"
"I guess he'd deserve a defense. I always let him get his way, never challenged him. But I didn't offer much of myself. I didn't make an effort to get to know him. I didn't love him the way Tom loves Willow. Or, uh, what was it, Drew and Kara?"
"Yeah."
"It was nothing like that. Not even close." I swallow hard. "Reasonable doubt is the cornerstone of our justice system." I sound like a textbook. I continue anyway. "The police can't just know what happened. They have to prove it. They need enough facts to convince twelve jurors."
He finds the tie holding together my French braid and pulls it out. "You're beaming."
"Really?"
"Yeah." He runs his fingers through my hair, undoing my braid. "Never thought a woman talking about the law could be so fucking sexy."
"Why did you run off last night?"
His eyes turn down. "Kept thinking that you're gonna back out of this."
"I won't. I swear."
He stares back with disbelief. "Can I get that in writing?"
There's all this vulnerability in his eyes. I want to wipe it away.
I nod. "Sure. You have a pen?"
He pulls a permanent marker from the front pocket of his skinny jeans and hands it to me.
"Hmm, where to write? No paper." I drag my fingers over the V of his v-neck. "This will have to do." I pull his t-shirt down and write my promise on his chest.
I won't back out of this. - Jess James
He looks down with a smile then takes the marker back. One hand goes to my shoulder, holding me in place. With the other, he scribbles on my chest.
"What's it say?" I ask.
He pulls back to admire his work. His lips curl into a smile. "I'll make you come every day."
"It does not."
He nods, pulls out his cell, and uses his camera to prove it.
There it is, in black marker on my chest:
I'll make you come every day. - Pete Steele
Crystal Kaswell writes steamy new adult and erotic romance books. She loves when flawed characters fall head over heels for each other. Especially if they fall into bed first. She loves police procedurals, tea, and The Hunger Games series. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

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Other reviews featuring Crystal Kaswell 
Sinful Serenade series
Sing Your Heart Out #1
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