BLOG TOUR: SWEET FILTHY BOY by CHRISTINA LAUREN

Welcome to my stop on the Sweet Filthy Boy Blog Tour! I loved this book so hard, and am excited to share my thoughts with you. Thanks for stopping by!

Series: Wild Seasons #1

Genre: Erotic Romance

Publisher: Gallery Books

Publication Date: 6/3/14
Format: ARC
Pages: 416
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 stars

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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.

I love Christina Lauren books. Every book contains an exceptional blend of smart, sexy, passion and humor. The books contain strong female friendships, which is something I don't see enough of in books. When it was revealed that the duo had a new series in the works, I was so on-board. It didn't matter who the characters were or where it took place or even what the story was about, for that matter. I just wanted it. Greedy, I know. But when you find an author(s) who delivers every single time, that's what happens. If I were to sum up Sweet Filthy Boy in one word, it would be delicious. If  I could use more words, they would be: delicious, dirty, sweet, hilarious, endearing, romantic and even surprising.

Ansel and Mia won me over from the beginning. I went into this telling myself not to do it, but I can't help but compare these two to Max and Sara of Beautiful Stranger. After a few really tough years, Mia is out to live it up on a wild weekend with her best friends. She's unhappy with the direction her life is headed, feels absolutely no passion for the future she's resolved herself to. She's directionless, really. Mia, she's so deeply ensconced into her own head. Comfortable conversations don't come easily for her, words don't come easily to Mia. Neither does letting go, emotionally or physically. When she meets charming Ansel, Mia finds a comfort, an easiness with him that she's never known. With Ansel, she finds herself letting go effortlessly.

Of all the Christina Lauren men, Will Sumner has been my favorite, until now. Maybe. For almost all of my friends, the favorite is Max Stella. It would probably be enough to sell Sweet Filthy Boy for me to simply say that Ansel could easily be compared to Max. If you love Max you're going lose your shit for Ansel. He's charming, sweet, full of enthusiasm for the people and world around him, embracing, has wicked skills in the sexin' department. And best of all, he's so clearly over his head for Mia from the moment he meets her. I love a nice man, a man who is not just out to get in, get out and move on, but who cherishes the woman he wants. If you like genuinely nice, sexy, witty men, Ansel is a sure thing.

Sweet Filthy Boy took a turn near the beginning that surprised me. That little twist also upped the the ante in terms of conflict and the "ohhhhhh shit" factor. Why I didn't see this coming, I couldn't tell you except maybe I was in a lust-haze over Ansel (FYI: there's a name I never thought I'd find remotely sexy). It also leads to Mia running away with Ansel, spending the summer in France. Together, Mia and Ansel... they just fit. In the beginning, with the wild weekend in Las Vegas, Mia is more open, Ansel is more relaxed. They are comfortable together and the sex is insane. What's really interesting, and it does give the story a hefty dose of realism, is the change in the relationship once they're in France. In the real world, Mia isn't seductive and wild, brave.  Ansel's work leaves him exhausted and her lonely. Mia's demeanor puts off a shyness that leaves him tentative. They're still wildly attracted to one another, and they genuinely like each other. The summer is full of discovery, Mia and Ansel truly discovering one another, Mia discovering herself.

Of course, the course of Mia and Ansel's love story does not run smoothly. It wouldn't be a Christina Lauren book without huge event that threatens the relationship, usually breaking my poor heart along with the characters. In this event, I felt so shocked that I had to hold myself. And, it wouldn't be a CL book without the realizations from the characters, the changes that come about a make them stronger. Big character growth. And then we have the beautiful, breathtaking conclusions. Sweet Filthy Boy's made me let out an actual whimper and tears. (Can't decide if I'm not well or just the world's most empathetic reader)

I'm going to finish this review basically the same way I started it. Sweet Filthy Boy was delicious from beginning to end. I loved every moment, every word, even those that hurt. I laughed, found myself getting a bit hot under the V-neck, and swooning for a sweet couple who took a chance on a wild weekend in Las Vegas.



Favorite Quotes


  "I wasn't sure I'd see you again." His voice has gone gravelly, hinting of the filthy things I want to hear him growl into my neck. My pulse is a frantic, pounding drum. I wonder if he can see it. "I looked for you."
  He looked for me.


  "[..]But you could just..." He looks away, down at the floor. "You could enjoy the city. Paris is the most beautiful city,Cerise. There are endless things to do. You've had a really hard few years and maybe would be happy just having a quiet summer in France." Looking back up at me, he adds quietly, "With me." 


  I've been helpless before... But never like this. This kind of helpless is liberating; it's what it feels like to have every nerve ending rise to the surface and drink in sensation. It's what it feels like to be touched by someone I trust with my body, trust with my heart.

 

The Wild Seasons Series

 

About the authors

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. Married to the cutest boy in school, she has a thirteen year old daughter, is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter, and also likes to steal Lo’s shoes.

You can follow their shenanigans at:
@lolashoes (Lauren) & @seeCwrite (Christina) on Twitter. On Tumblr! where 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 @beautifulbastrd.