REVIEW: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Expected Publication: September 4, 2018 from Gallery Books

Publisher's Summary:
Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.

Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.

Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them...right? 
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I absolutely adored everything about this! Hazel is a hoot. Free spirited and hilarious, reader's can see why she hasn't met the right guy.  Her lack of filter is refreshing.  Josh is her polar opposite. Despite their bargain to 'not date', these two are actually perfect for each other. I also appreciated that the authors chose a male protagonist who was not the stereotypical 'hot, white guy'. Part of Josh's charm and sex appeal is his Korean heritage and relationship with his family.

It is no secret that I'm a sucker for friends turned more romances and this checks all the boxes. Josh and Hazel's history plus the disastrous blind dates are hilariously entertaining!

This writing due continues to excel with great, funny, sexy relationship reads. I don't often give perfect ratings but I enjoyed every minute of this book, even laughing out loud quite a bit.  My only misgiving was that it ended far too soon.  I want more!!!

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Dating You, Hating You by Christina Lauren

*Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair review*

Expected publication: June 6, 2017

All’s fair in love and work. 

Dating You, Hating You is the first standalone novel by writing duo Christina Lauren. The novel is a contemporary romance that is as sexy as fan would expect but also filled to the brim with humor and sassy dialogue that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. 

Despite the odds against them from an embarrassing meet-awkward at a mutual friend’s Halloween party, Carter and Evie immediately hit it off. Even the realization that they’re both high-powered agents at competing firms in Hollywood isn’t enough to squash the fire.

But when their two agencies merge—causing the pair to vie for the same position—all bets are off. What could have been a beautiful, blossoming romance turns into an all-out war of sabotage. Carter and Evie are both thirtysomething professionals—so why can’t they act like it?

As I reader, I nearly gobbled up the book in one sitting. The story pulls you in based on the the characters and plot. There is a little War of the Roses mixed with Office Space. While both characters have their flaws, and I wanted to smack Carter a few times, I really enjoyed the overall narrative.  As a duo, the writers explore character voice, POV and relationship tensions well. 

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Beautiful by Christina Lauren

Beautiful marks the end to this series from Christina Lauren, introducing us to a new potential couple and reuniting us with the characters we've met in each book.

Jensen Bergstrom is a handsome, successful if workaholic lawyer in Boston, who just happens to be Hanna's brother and Will's best friend (Beautiful Player). Still burned by the sudden end of his marriage six years earlier, he decides that an extended vacation with friends might be long overdue.

Londoner Pippa Bay Cox decides that an extended holiday is necessary to cheer her up from a job she hates and the discovery of her boyfriend cheating on her in her own bed!  She crosses the Atlantic for an epic road trip with her best friend Ruby and her beau, Niles (Beautiful Secret).

“It’s too bad I’m too eccentric for you. It’s too bad you’re too busy for me. It’s too bad I’m only learning my heart and you have yours rolled up in bubble wrap.” 

Of course, it’s only once Jensen's committed to the trip that he realizes the strange girl he met briefly on the plane is coming along, too. She might be too much for him…or he might realize his life has become too small and needs her to make it bigger, crazier.

Beautiful is sexy and snarky, the perfect blend that author duo Christina Lauren have come to master over the past few years. I enjoyed Jensen's and Pippa's romantic journey as well as the bit with past characters, especially Chloe's uncharacteristic personality changes during her pregnancy. They aren't my favorite couple or book--that still belongs to Hanna and Will in Beautiful Player. 

It is a little bittersweet to have this series wrap up; however, the extras at the end of the book fill in some holes and bring a sense of completion.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Follow the author on Twitter: @ChristinaLauren

#Beautiful #romance #books #sexytime #humor #ChristinaLauren 

REVIEW: Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren

Wicked Sexy Liar is the fourth in the Wild Seasons series by the duo writing as Christina Lauren.

London Hughes is a new college graduate unsure with what she wants from life. She's content to surf, do a bit of graphic design and bartend before jumping headfirst into adulthood. Burned by an unfaithful ex, London isn't ready for any sort of relationship but often feels like the third wheel to friends Mia, Harlow and Lola whose wild night in Vegas led to meaningful hot guy hookups and true love.

Enter sexy and charismatic Luke Sutter. Their chemistry is electric and what is a super hot one night stand could be more until London learns Luke is her friend Mia's ex. She struggles to honor the "Girl Code" but when even Mia and sharp tongued Harlow give her the all clear, London can't help but fall hard for Luke. However, her feelings aren't without trepidation given Luke's reputation as a player. Luke's breakup with Mia wasn't ideal and he's been adrift in meaningless hookups for far too long. Once he realizes that London is the one to make him change his ways, Luke steps up his pursuit to prove to her that they are meant to be.

Wicked Sexy Liar is everything fans have come to expect from the authors. Super sexy but with good character development and an engaging plot.  This is a fitting conclusion to the series but I will note that London was perhaps my least favorite female protagonist of the four. I can't quite put my finger on it as to why I felt this way but I just didn't engage with her as much as let's say Lola.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars


Follow the author on Twitter: @ChristinaLauren




#WildSeasons #WickedSexyLiar #erotic #romance #audiobook #books

REVIEW: Beautiful Secret by Christina Lauren

Beautiful Secret is the fourth installment in writing duo Christina Lauren's Beautiful Bastard series.  Ruby Miller is a young American interning for her chance at a prestigious spot studying in Oxford.  When her boss announces that she'll be going to NYC on an extended business trip, she's stunned.  More so when Ruby learns she'll be accompanying the company's top urban planning exec, Niall Stella aka THE HOTTEST MAN ALIVE!

Niall Stella is as handsome as he is conservative. Still nursing the wounds of a new divorce, he doesn't have romance on his mind. Until his flirt filled plane ride with Ruby on the way to NYC. Their attraction builds, eventually mixing business and pleasure. Neither can quite label their new found relationship but when both personal and professional waves surface, some difficult choices have to be made.

One criticism is the frustrating stall to this relationship.  Its finally getting somewhere and then Niall and Ruby (both equally at fault) have to go and throw a monkey wrench in the whole thing. Admittedly, Niall needed closure but didn't handle it well. Ruby makes her own decisions but when she doesn't get the reaction she wanted things go awry. This part of the book was rather irritating.

Overall, I liked this entry to the series but my favorite is still think Beautiful Player is my favorite.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars




#beautifulsecret #christinalauren #romance #contemporary #erotic #bookreview

REVIEW: Dark Wild Night by Christina Lauren

Dark Wild Night is pretty much the book Christina Lauren fans have been waiting for in the Wild Seasons series.  After that wild night in Vegas, Lola and Oliver were the only newlyweds to not act on their initial attraction. Instead, they've spent the past eight months developing a uniquely deep friendship and fighting equally intense feelings of attraction.

Once they do admit their feelings, things take a super spicy turn. Oliver openly admits he's full on in love with Lola but her emotional hangups and growing career pressures strain the relationship from the beginning. Lola has some soul searching to do lest she loose Oliver entirely.

My fondness for the series grows with each book.  I still don't love book 1's (Sweet Filthy Boy) couple (Ansel and Mia). For me, that one was just okay. I really liked book 2 (Dirty Rowdy Thing) featuring Harlow and Finn but the real anticipation was for Oliver and Lola's story.

As a reader, I wasn't disappointed.  However, I had more than a few moments of wanting to strangle Lola over all her issues given how seemingly perfect Oliver is for her. It worked out in the end as these stories mostly do; but, the frustration level was there.

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars




#darkwildnight #christinalauren #wildseasons #romance #erotic #contemporary #bookreview