Beautiful Beloved by Christina Lauren

In Beautiful Stranger , finance whiz Sara Dillon met the irresistibly sexy Brit, Max Stella, at a New York City club. Through the series we’ve watched them learn to balance commitment with their less than private brand of playfulness. In Beautiful Beloved, Max and Sara take it to the next step. But the question is: Will they be able to find a balance between the wild sexcapades they aren’t ready to retire, and the demands of parenthood that come along with their new Beautiful bundle of joy? Parenthood: it’s not for the weak of heart.


I never new I needed another Max Stella read until I came across this novella. Then suddenly I was all giggles and butterflies-in-my-stomach.

This was what I just needed during a stressful week at work (and it's only even Tuesday!). The situation was a far cry from the Max and Sara that we were used to reading--both workaholics and not too shy about their PDAs...and beyond. It was so much fun reading about a couple that was new to the family set-up with their first baby. There was too much adorableness line after line after line. (I cannot imagine my feels when CL comes around to writing a new Will and Hanna book. I would just faint in happiness! I love me some Will, is all.)

So just about everything about being new parents you can read in this fast read. Whether it was about a couple getting back on to their sex life or even simply going on date nights or wanting to go back to work. This was just an all-around funny read (that picture "accident" with Will though) that ended too quickly for me. I just couldn't get enough. 

Also take note that we get introduced to Max's brother Niall here. Another character with a British accent. Seriously, how are we surviving this series again? Ahhh, I'm all melty waiting to read his book!


Final verdict: 9/10. Great funny read.


Beautiful Bastard series reviews:
Beautiful Bastard
Beautiful Bitch
Beautiful Stranger
Beautiful Bombshell
Beautiful Player
Beautiful Beginning

Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren

Despite their rowdy hookups, Harlow and Finn don’t even like each other...which would explain why their marriage lasted only twelve hours. He needs to be in charge and takes whatever he wants. She lives by the Want-something-done? Do-it-yourself mantra. Maybe she’s too similar to the rugged fisherman—or just what he needs.

I have been on a blog slump so it's an understatement to say that I have finished this book a while back and am just posting this review now. Oh, well. Better late than never.

With that said, let me say that this book was one of the sexiest books I have read this year. With the little snippets of Finn and Harlow's relationship that I have read from the first book of the series, I was nothing but extra excited for this next installment. And of course, CL doesn't disappoint. Ever.

I loved the chemistry between Finn and Harlow. Not to mention that Finn was oh-so-hot! Me: drooling! But what I loved best was their unapologetically honest relationship. It was also going so well I almost felt like stopping reading because I didn't want to come across the inevitable hiccup in their story.

But there it was and despite the oh-no-you-didn't moments, the characters actually seemed more realistic with their more-than-human mistakes. Yes, there was drama but not the type that would have you pulling at your hair and think 'Oh, enough already!' 

Bottom line is? This read left me all good inside. Good storytelling from my favorite writing duo...not that I still need to say that. It is a given.

Final verdict: 10/10. Awesome must-read.

Wild Seasons series reviews:

Sweet Filthy Boy

Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren

One-night stands are supposed to be with someone convenient, or wickedly persuasive, or regrettable. They aren’t supposed to be with someone like him.

But after a crazy Vegas weekend celebrating her college graduation—and terrified of the future path she knows is a cop-out—Mia Holland makes the wildest decision of her life: follow Ansel Guillaume—her sweet, filthy fling—to France for the summer and just...play.

When feelings begin to develop behind the provocative roles they take on, and their temporary masquerade adventures begin to feel real, Mia will have to decide if she belongs in the life she left because it was all wrong, or in the strange new one that seems worlds away.


What is this awesomeness?! Ye, gods! I didn't expect to love this book sooo reakin' much. I don't think I can do this book justice with this lowly review. Maybe in a month? Because right now all I wanna do is gush and blubber I could cry.

This book was just brimming of chemistry! There's chemistry and then there's chemistry. Oh, my god! And the sexy is just overwhelming. I'm not talking about the action because this is a CL book and that went without saying. I'm talking about Ansel and Mia putting the flirt on. These two characters are just overwhelmingly good together. And the locales? Well, Las Vegas is hardly sexy but Paris?! Woah, shut up now.

I just can't make a decent review fit enough for this book. Blame it on Ansel because I am crushing so hard on him right now to string a single coherent thought. I can't find any faults at all. But trust me on this, buy this book now and start reading it!!!

Wait, there is no sixth star? Ugh, bummer.


Final verdict: 10/10. Great must-read. Awesome, lovely, sexaaay.

Series Recommendation #4: Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

This is a long overdue recommendation and was supposed to be posted more than a week ago. But I went out of town and afterwards was trying to catch up on other things. There. At least I had a good excuse.

Alright, so I was massively intrigued by this series--I was late to the party and all that. But I kept reading reviews on the opposite ends of the spectrum--with equal fervor!--that I had no other choice but to start reading this trilogy.

It started out entertainingly enough for me because who wouldn't want a Chloe-Bennett kind of crazy? Too much sex, too! But I can't really complain that much because I did enjoy the writing of the awesome duo that is Christina Lauren. And then if I thought that the first book was crazy, the second book was even more so. Max and Sara's story though was almost a point when I wanted to give up on the trilogy. I really thought that book was going to be rubbish. And I can only take so much craziness in one book...let alone in two.

As it turned out, the last book was a surprisingly good read and I was more than glad to have stuck it until the very end. Will and Hannah are unf! This book was just unbelievably good to me that I did not want it to end. There was nothing of the crazy in the first two books here. Just good old fun and romance.

So here you go.

Book 1: Beautiful Bastard

Novella 1: Beautiful Bitch

Book 2: Beautiful Stranger

Novella 2: Beautiful Bombshell

Book 3: Beautiful Player

Novella 3: Beautiful Beginning

As you may have noticed, there's more to this trilogy than just the regular three books. There were novellas after each book. Although mainly more focused on Chloe and Bennett, these were pretty good transitions from one book to another. That last one though split my side in laughter. 

Ahh, too much goodness within these pages!

Beautiful Beginning by Christina Lauren

Back when not being able to stand each other also meant not being able to keep their hands off each other in Beautiful Bastard, neither Bennett nor Chloe could have seen this day coming.

An exasperated bride who just wants to elope. A determined groom whose only focus is getting to the wedding night. And—of course—a whole lot of name calling.


So we have come to the end of the Ben, Max, and Will Show. Sad to be ending this series but this novella was the perfect end to it. The icing to a yummy, yummy triple chocolate cake. Ha!

Ben and Chloe were finally getting married. He had also made the decision to abstain for the last four days before their wedding. We're talking Max here. And don't forget, Chloe. Fireworks were delivered, thank you very much.

Max and Sara were having a baby. Oh, oh, oh. Pregnant women always make the best pictures. And babies, too. Hmm, I'm sure someone's picture collection grew quite huge.

And there's my Will and Hannah. Ahhh. I loved these two. The only reason I'm not giving this novella a perfect score is because there wasn't enough Will scenes to melt my insides.

But OMG! I was laughing so hard at some parts while reading this. It was like watching Hangover all over. Nothing ever seemed to go right for these trio and yet, nothing seemed to faze them either. Like we didn't already know, right? If you have read their books, that is.

I need a fourth full-length novel in this series. Stat.


Final verdict: 9/10. Great novella.


Beautiful Bastard series reviews:
Beautiful Bastard
Beautiful Bitch
Beautiful Stranger
Beautiful Bombshell
Beautiful Player

Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren

A bombshell bookworm. A chronic Casanova. And a lesson in chemistry too scandalous for school.

When Hanna Bergstrom receives a lecture from her overprotective brother about neglecting her social life and burying herself in grad school, she’s determined to tackle his implied assignment: get out, make friends, start dating. And who better to turn her into the sultry siren every man wants than her brother’s gorgeous best friend, Will Sumner, venture capitalist and unapologetic playboy?

Will takes risks for a living, but he’s skeptical about this challenge of Hanna’s…until the wild night his innocently seductive pupil tempts him into bed- and teaches him a thing or two about being with a woman he can’t forget. Now that Hanna’s discovered the power of her own sex appeal, it’s up to Will to prove he’s the only man she’ll ever need.


I. Am. Done. Oh, good Lord. CL saved the best for last!

I am almost to the end of this series but this is the last full-length novel in it. I loved, love, loved this book. I will try not to gush about it (too much) but it's gonna be hard.

I should really be sad because I was about to end a wonder wonderful series and yet somehow I was glad to finally get my hands on Will. Figuratively, of course. There was so much build-up to his character in the previous books that I had such a high expectation on this book. Sooo glad it delivered the goods!

Will and Hannah was a delight to read. Was it because I knew nothing about Hannah prior to this book? No glimpse whatsoever and then boom! There are books about friends with benefits and then there are books about friends with benefits. Okay, so Hannah's big brother was really Will best friend in school. But you know what I mean, right? I think this has set the bar for that kind of premise. Wait, there's no I think about. It definitely has.

Friends going into the more-than-friends zone is never easy and this book just pretty much showed how complicated that situation is going to be. I went through all the confusion with Hannah and Will. I ccould just picture how a cute of a couple they made. ***SPOILER*** And that scene right at then when Will was trying really hard to be a friend to Hannah again after she broke it up with him. That right there was beautiful to read.  Ahhh. I can't. 

Long story short, I just went went gooey in just about sweet Will moments but this pretty much did me in: 

I'd somehow always expected love to be primarily a mental state, so I still feel unaccustomed to the physical manifestation of my feelings for her: the way my stomach would grow tight, my skin would start to feel hungry for her touch, the way my chest would press in, my heart pounding blood hard and fast through my arteries.

I can never do justice enough to review this book. Never.


Final verdict: 10/10. Brimming-with-awesome read, must have. (Did you not read the review?)


Beautiful Bastard series reviews:
Beautiful Bastard
Beautiful Bitch
Beautiful Stranger
Beautiful Bombshell

Beautiful Bombshell by Christina Lauren

When Max, Henry, and Will steal Bennett away for a weekend of shenanigans and strippers in Vegas, the first stop of the night doesn’t go at all as planned. With their scheme for a Guys Weekend completely derailed anyway, Max and Bennett begin to play a wild game of stealth and secrecy in order to have their bombshells all over Sin City.


Ahh, a breath of fresh air! This is probably the best novella I have read in weeks. I'm not the biggest fan of novellas because I like my stories in full-length books but sometimes novellas get thrown in your way that it's hard to say no to them.

Told in Bennett and Max's POVs, I loved how this one still focused on Bennett and Chloe without the awkwardness of having to add Max and Sara's story in it. This was full-packed with romp, lust, steamy sex, and good old fun. In this POV, it was fun to be let in on being one of the boys. 

With Bennett and Max already hooked, this provided a great companion read to their stories and at the same time, gave me more insight into Will and his friendship with the rest of the guys. Will's book is next in the series so I cannot help but be excited to read it...although I'm being myself and trying to hold off reading it and therefore, end the series. Am not ready to do that yet.


Final verdict: 8/10. Great quick read.


Beautiful Bastard series reviews:
Beautiful Bastard
Beautiful Bitch
Beautiful Stranger

Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren

Escaping a cheating ex, finance whiz Sara Dillon's moved to New York City and is looking for excitement without a lot of strings attached. So meeting the irresistible, sexy Brit at a dance club should have meant nothing more than a night's fun. But the manner--and speed--with which he melts her inhibitions turns him from a one-time hookup and into her Beautiful Stranger.

The whole city knows Max Stella loves women, not that he's ever found one he particularly wants to keep around. Despite pulling in plenty with his Wall Street bad boy charm, it's not until Sara--and the wild photos she lets him take of her--that he starts wondering if there's someone for him outside of the bedroom.

Hooking up in places where anybody could catch them, the only thing scarier for Sara than getting caught in public is having Max get too close in private.

Is it something in the water or was it just the choice of books that I've been reading lately? I couldn't seem to connect to them like I usually do.

I have enjoyed the first book off this series that I was expecting the same thing for this book. But the only thing kept me trudging on page after page for this book is the fact that Max was British. (Hello? Like that needs explaining.)

I really felt Max was Sara's rebound. I don't care if that really wasn't the case but that's the only way I can rationalize their relationship at the start. I just couldn't warm to Sara's character enough to really feel the genuine connection between the two of them. I felt that Max had to force out her feelings from her, to use the word loosely. ***SPOILER*** Sara was the one who lost trust in Max at the first hiccup in their relationship.

But despite that, CL's writing still provided a fun read. I finished the book, didn't I? Despite my feelings of disconnect. This duo kicks ass for sure. The steam is just nom. And the kink that Max and Sara had was actually much better to read that the exhaustive fighting Bennett and Chloe had in the first book. And lastly, I may not have best feelings toward this book when I started reading it, even when I got to the middle-ish part. But the ending pretty much made up for the entire thing.


Final verdict: 7/10. Good read.


Beautiful Bastard series reviews:
Beautiful Bastard
Beautiful Bitch

Beautiful Bitch by Christina Lauren

Picking up where Beautiful Bastard left off, Chloe Mills and Bennett Ryan continue their steamy, combative relationship.

Just when Chloe’s career starts to take off, Bennett wishes it would all slow down long enough to spend a wild night alone with his girlfriend. But after he refuses to take no for an answer, Chloe and Bennett find themselves with two plane tickets, one French Villa, and a surprising conversation that, predictably, leaves them wrestling under the covers.


It was a good thing that I learned that Beautiful Bastard had a re-write because this read would've felt like an alien read to me.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed this novella. It's always good to read about how a couple continues on in their happy ever after and we all know that realistically, it won't be always happy. There was still the Chloe/Bennett chemistry and I have actually become fond with their little fights.

But despite knowing that there was a rewrite for BB, this one kind of fell short to expectations. Probably because I have read alternate endings to BB? I don't know. I probably would've enjoyed this better if I just read it thinking it was a standalone. But this doesn't mean that I've been put off from reading the rest of the BB series. I will most definitely read each book soon.


Final verdict: 7/10. Good read.

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. 

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate--and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative--completely infuriating--creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules--or outright smash them--if it means he can have her. All over the office. 

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other.


I almost couldn't handle the steam in this book. Probably because every chapter just had some hanky-panky going on in it. With that said, I have to admit that I did skip some parts. Yes.

I think the hate-f*cking pretty much dragged on for quite a bit in the book. I would've loved it to be a bit shorter so that we could get on the loving a bit earlier than it did. 

Nevertheless, the rest of the book pretty much made up for it. All the sex removed (well, maybe not all), I pretty much enjoyed the story. There is something about a love-hate relationship that just hits me in the eye. 

I liked Ryan Bennett, okay? So shoot me. I also love books when *SPOILER* the I love yous come in early. And then when said:

Thank you for loving me.

I was a goner. I knew that the premise of boss-assistant is a tad (mighty!) overused but I just couldn't quit the book. The thought did come to mind because there was the sex at the start of book just kept me skippng some pages. But I was glad to stick to it and just kept reading because I loved the the later part of the book much, much more than that the first part.

I understood her fears and knew that she had put it all aside to believe in us.

With that, I just didn't get why it took Bennett time to man up about their relationship. So Chloe wanted them to be a secret for some time but with that kind of unerstanding, he could've manned up and the hulabaloo about them getting found out wouldn't have been as nasty.

But Mr Ryan pretty much redeemed himself everytime I had a "yeah, right" moment.

You're everything to me. My life is yours, everything I have...everything I am, it's yours.

*big grin* I have always mentioned in my other reviews that when a book has a good family story in it, it was going to be a winner. This is one of those. I love Bennett and his mom's scenes. All in all, I was glad I didn't quit on this book. There were saving graces, you just have to look for them.


Final verdict: 8/10. Great read.