Holy moly, this book! I think I could even go as far as saying that it may be my favorite Kendall Ryan book yet! It was just all kinds of sassy, adorable, funny, not to mention crazy hot, and at the same time, it still has that substance and vibe you crave in a good romance novel. I immediately became entranced with Luke and Charlotte's story. It's an enemies-to-lovers romance that will have you clinging on to every scene and everything that will happen next and then trying to push them to go for it already, rather than leaving you pissed off your head with what's going on. I never felt a single ounce where either one of the characters were playing hard to get, which is usually one of the things that start irritating me with this kind of romance trope. So I really dug this book. HARD.
City girl meets small town boy.
Charlotte Freemont wasn't supposed to stop over or even be in Shady Grove if not for her car breaking down on her. Now she finds herself in a town in the middle of nowhere where everybody knows everybody's business and they could easily pick out the newbies. And she clearly stands out with her prissy clothes, her shiny heels, and her hundred thousand dollar car. All she wanted was to get away from her old life as far and as fast as she could. Now, she's stuck in a place that couldn't be more opposite than what she was used to. And for Charlotte, it was like seeing and experiencing life with brand new senses all over again.
Luke Wilder was not a guy who goofed around nor trusted easily, especially to those who were new in his town. With what he and his family went through, he couldn't afford to do so. And with what he experienced first hand, people like Charlotte Freemont don't stay long in a place like Shady Grove. It's just a place to pass over and move on from. The moment his eyes landed on Charlotte, he disliked her stuck up nature right away, regardless of how attractive she found her to be. She reminded him so much of the times he got burned and left behind by those he loves. He knew deep inside that she was the type of girl who would come to disdain his town and scramble to leave the second she can. There was just no point for him to be friendly or welcoming.
But then days passed by as Charlotte's car couldn't be fixed right away and these two got to know and spend more time with one another. It was only supposed to be a fling. A whirlwind of a weekend while Charlotte's car was getting worked on by the only mechanic in town. It was like a mini vacation of sorts for the city girl and a huge de-stressing mode for the small town boy.
Neither of them expected the undeniable attraction and sparks that flew whenever they bantered back and forth. Or that special connection they felt for one another whenever they talked about anything and everything. No matter how much they told their hearts not to get involved, there was no stopping the emotions they brought out of one another. Everything between them just seemed to have a ticking time bomb, especially the time Charlotte has left in her stay at Shady Grove.
I fell head over heels for Luke and his sweet, subtly romantic ways. He's the kind of man who certainly will swoop you off your feet and make you swoon your panties off. Seriously. Those small gestures he makes will completely melt you into a huge puddle of Wilder Whiskey. I loved how guarded he was with Charlotte, even more so when he finally shared pieces of his past and heart with us. But you'll just love him more and more, the deeper you get into the story.
And Charlotte. I actually enjoyed the way she ran from her old life. The way she wanted to learn to be her own person and earn what she actually worked for. I truly felt the way she yearned for a brand new start somewhere that her life in New York couldn't taint or touch. It was awe-inspiring, to be honest. Doing what this woman did seriously takes major balls.
This book was just so much more than I expected it to be and I think that just became the cherry on top of such a sizzling, fun-filled storyline already. An utterly sexy and addictive quick read, Kendall Ryan will have you drawn to the characters and plot of Sexy Stranger in no time. Definitely recommending this to those who are looking for instant good vibes and fluttering butterflies in their tummy!