February 11, 2016

REVIEW: Wicked Sexy Liar (Wild Season #4)



Wicked Sexy Liar (Wild Seasons #4), by Christina Lauren
Publish Date:
February 2, 2016
Publisher: Gallery Books
Format: paperback, purchased
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS


(Synopsis) 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.

I have a confession to make. 

*whispers* I think I like Luke more than Ansel.

I know - I didn't think it was possible either. After reading Sweet Filthy Boy, I thought it couldn't get any better than playful French hottie Ansel. In that book, Luke was really only a sidebar - Mia's ex who wasn't there for her after her accident. And, in that book, it was hard not to paint him as a douchebag. But, in Wicked Sexy Liar, we got to SEE Luke. And, when I got the whole, pretty picture, I was all...


We've met London before this book too. While Mia, Harlow, Lola and Luke have been BFFs since they were kids, London only recently joined this eclectic group when she became Lola's roommate. Wicked Sexy Liar talks a lot about London's past and how it shaped her present-day hangups about commitment, monogamy and faithfulness in relationships. And, really, Luke is the poster-boy for the antithesis of all those qualities.

London had the potential to go either way for me, into love or hate territory. She's an incredibly strong and independent woman. She has strongly held preconceived notions about Luke, which are not altogether incorrect. She could've been a huge bitch to him because of them and become the slut shamer to beat all slut shamers. But, the incredible Christina Lauren duo kept me firmly on Team London. They made her hard, but not so hard that she didn't have real feelings and express real emotion when the situation called for it. London was never awful to Luke, and in fact formed a sweet friendship with him, in spite of his overflowing little black book.

But, really - this was Luke's book. It was all about his come-to-Jesus moment - which was the moment that London pigeon-holed him and his friends for being Heineken-drinking, womanizing, water polo playing former frat boys, and he decided he didn't like her thinking that about him. You've heard the phrase, "It's all about perception"? Luke learns that the hard way. No matter how badly he wants to change London's view of him and convince her he isn't the player she thinks he is, it's harder than he thought. Some playful banter over the bar and a few nights of smoking hot sex isn't enough.  And that's a bitter pill for Luke to swallow when he realizes that London is THE ONE.

I want someone who makes me laugh, who challenges me, who listens to me. I want that leg within reach while I drive. I want to wait until someone is done futzing around the house before we head to bed. I need to be someone a woman can respect and trust enough to spill the details of her day. 

And, that's not even taking into consideration the Mia factor. Luke and London have her in common, and Luke's former relationship with Mia is a hard limit for London for awhile - sisters before misters, and all that. So, not only has London given Luke a chance to right his manwhoring ways, but she has also given him the push he needed to get some closure with Mia, make friends with Ansel and reconnect with Lola and Harlow.

Wicked Sexy Liar was an incredibly fun book. Luke and London's banter had me laughing out loud nearly every time they were together. And, don't get me started on Luke's family. His relationship with his sister Margot is so awesome. And his Gran - seriously. Just read the book. Luke's grandmother steals the show.

There was so much to love in this book. We got lots of time with Mia, Harlow, Lola and their men. There were a lot of laughs and some serious moments too. There was hot sexy and romance and that grand gesture that makes your heart totally melt. Luke was IT for me - I bet he'll be it for you too.

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