Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Fav Reads 2015, Favourite New Adult Series 2015
Series: Wild Seasons Series

This series crosses over with the Beautiful Bastard Series in book 4 of the Beautiful Bastard Series, Beautiful Secret.

Author: Christina Lauren
# of Books: 4 (Sweet Filthy Boy, Dirty Rowdy Thing, Dark Wild Night, Wicked Sexy Liar)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: Yes
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Erotica, Chick Lit
Heat Rating: hot, (Kink: minor [Dark Wild Night])
Point of View: First Person, Single (Sweet Filthy Boy), Alternate (Dirty Rowdy Thing onwards)

Thoughts:

When I first saw that Christina Lauren had a new New Adult series, I didn’t put it to the top of my to-read list. Despite the fact that I did enjoy the Beautiful Bastard Series (by this point I had only read the first two novels in the series) and that I like that they write strong independent female heroines, I just wasn’t sold on reading another series by them. But then two things happened: 1) was that I read Beautiful Player, the 3rd novel of the Beautiful Bastard Series an LOVED it! and 2) I actually read the synopsis for Sweet Filthy Boy and I just had to know what happened.

And I am so glad that I did!

If I didn’t have a midterm test the next day, I would have stayed up all night reading Sweet Filthy Boy. It hooked me in the second I started reading and I couldn’t put it down. I laughed, I teared-up and most importantly, I fell in love with Mia and Ansel. Sure, the romance was a bit of a love-at-first-sight situation but it never felt like that. They really had a strong connection and I loved watching their relationship develop. Seeing them connect emotionally and not just physically was such a blast to read about. This is what I wanted Gayle Forman’s Just One Day Series to be: a cute, albeit it slightly unrealistic, soul-mate finding romance set in Paris. Sweet Filthy Boy was the perfect blend of character growth, romance and fun (including humour!).

Ansel was swoon-worthy–definitely a new book boyfriend for me–and I really connected to Mia more than I thought I would. Mia was really the best part of the book for me. Certain traits of hers reminded me a lot of myself but I loved watching her grow during this book. She also wasn’t a stupid and irrational character–which was quite the bonus because I was reading another book at the time with a super annoying heroine so Mia made for a nice break–and actually thought about things before she acted. I loved how she handled everything that was thrown at her and did it in a smart way. And I know from reading an interview with Christina and Lauren that they were worried that having only a single POV wouldn’t go over well with fans but I think it worked out perfectly and Mia was awesome to read about.

The rest of the characters are also great–which made me super excited to read the rest of the series.

While I didn’t love love Dirty Rowdy Thing like I loved Sweet Filthy Boy it was still a great read! Again, the focus wasn’t just on sex and instead you get to see a relationship actually build; plus the signature sexy times Christina Lauren is known for thrown in for good measure. It too was a great blend of realism (in terms of relationships), romance and humour and it lead me to the conclusion that Christina Lauren might be one of my new favourite authors because this series is everything I want in a contemporary, New Adult romance series. The little quirks that irked me in the first two Beautiful Bastard Series novels are gone like they were in Beautiful Player and the result is just a really great read.

Words cannot describe how excited I am for Dark Wild Night: I hate the fact that I have to wait until September to wait for this couple’s story. At least I will have the crossover novel until them, Beautiful Secret…sigh

–October 12, 2015– Book #3: Dark Wild Night

I’ve wanted to read this couple’s story since the very first book so to say I was highly anticipating this one isn’t adequate enough. However, I was worried when I read the initial synopsis. I didn’t like where it was going and I am SO GLAD that Christina Lauren rewrote this book before publication because the story we get is perfect for these two.

I’m not a fan of unrequited friendship love stories but when it’s two friends who are equally in love with each other and don’t know what to do about it–I’m so there. I spent the first 50 or so pages with butterflies in my stomach because it was adorable and perfect. I loved watching this relationship become something more.

I was expecting this book to be my favourite of the 3 but I still think Sweet Filthy Boy takes the cake. I think Mia and Ansel in the first book are better developed characters. So while I really, really enjoyed Dark Wild Night, it did lose me for a second or two in the middle but quickly righted itself in the end.

Can’t WAIT to how it is going to wrap up in the final (?) book: Wicked Sexy Liar!

–March 16, 2016– Book #4: Wicked Sexy Liar

I really didn’t know what to expect with Wicked Sexy Liar. These two were characters we had only met in passing before and hadn’t been anticipating their relationship from the first book.

The more I read this book, the more I enjoyed it. I really liked the relationship that developed between these two. I liked how they had more in common than just physical chemistry and they had that friendship blossoming between them. I definitely fell more in love with them as a couple the more I read.

I also liked how honest these characters were. For a book titled “Wicked Sexy Liar”, I really thought more lying would be happening but that wasn’t the case. These two were so open and had great communication that it made me wonder why they titled the book this.

Not my favourite in the series, but a solid way to end it all I think. Definitely an enjoyable read!

(PS can Margot please have your own story? That would be great thanks!)

Series Rating: 5/5

Sweet Filthy Boy 5/5 | Dirty Rowdy Thing 4.5/5 | Dark Wild Night 5/5 | Wicked Sexy Liar 4/5

Maybe I loved these first two books so much because I was supposed to be studying for midterms both times I picked them up, but I really don’t think that is the case. This series is everything I like in a contemporary romance–strong heroines, swoon-worthy heros, humour, an actual emotional connection–and lacks what I hate about contemporary romance–over the top relationship drama. Christina Lauren have written winners with this series!

Read if You Like: new adult contemporary, emotionally connected romance
Avoid if You: dislike crude love scenes

• Just One Day by Gayle Foreman (Just One Day Series #1)
• Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly
• Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young (On Dublin Street Series #3)
• Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren (Beautiful Bastard Series #1)

Synopsis for Sweet Filthy Boy (from Goodreads):
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.