Wicked Lies Grow Wildflowers

by M.W. Smith

I’m not used to being the good guy. I never hunt my prey with the intention of keeping them alive. I’m not in the business for that, after all. Every action taken with her goes against my very nature, but I don’t care. From the moment my eyes first met hers, she’s all I can think about.

Maeren Laughlin captivates me unlike anyone else. Now I can feel myself becoming obsessed, unable to restrain the desire I’ve tried so hard to resist. She doesn’t know this, though. She doesn’t know about the darkness I try so hard to hide. What was once a little lie about who and what I truly am turns wicked, and soon those lies twist, leaving Maeren unable to know what’s real.

A deadly situation, surely.

Can my Wildflower and I survive it?

292 pages, Paperback

Published November 22, 2024

About the author

M.W. Smith is a romance author, mother, and military spouse.
When she’s not busy wrangling her son, you can find her writing, reading, in the gym, or exploring the outdoors with her husband.
She runs on heavy metal and true crime podcasts, loves iced coffee, sour candy, and has a horrible addiction to diet coke.


Keep up with her on Instagram @mwsmith.writes

Reviews

[Meagan Krumrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I DEVOURED THIS. Xander is obsessive, possessive, and every description of him is absolutely drool worthy. If you like stalker romances, possessive mmc, touch her and die tropes this is a MUST read.

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was 4 stars for me!

If you loved Sophie Lark's "Sinners" duology, this is the perfect debut novel for you.

From start to finish, this plot had all the twists and turns. Maeren and Xander find themselves instantly attracted to one another, but one holds a darker secret.

I absolutely loved the stalker vibes this story gave but also the beautiful character development as the story progressed. I think many of us have become infatuated with the "touch her and die" trope, so this book did not disappoint in that department. The murder mystery aspect of this plot also goes to show the author is a murder mystery podcast fanatic - which *high 5* same.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the development of the plot. Add this one to your TBR if you want a stalker dark romance with a shite mother figure, a snarky best friend, and a dark meticulous roller coaster ride.

[rereadqueen · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC Review.

The story is about a woman and a Hitman who now has a new obsession.

Our FMC Maeren was a 20-something real-estate agent, mental health rep and is struggling with boundaries. She has one best friend; Sage, who was a great addition to the story, I enjoyed their friendship. I felt I struggled to connect with Maeren, but she was doing the best she could with her wonderful dearest mother (sarcasm 😮‍💨😮‍💨).

There was a good amount of spicy scenes in this book, but I felt they could have slowed down and let the tension build up.

Xander, our MMC, struggles to not want her and is trying to stay away. He had the best ways of creeping into her life and making Maeren squirm. His inner dialogue was fun. I think he was the MVP of this book, and I really enjoyed his side of the story.

"A tempest with the hips of a devil."

I think my favorite parts of this book were the family Thanksgiving dinner and the torture scene where Xander is getting his personal therapy session in. 😅👌

“You know, I really tried to do the right thing with her. I tried to be a good guy to the best of my ability. But you see, I’m not very good to begin with, am I?”

If you are looking for a short and sweet Stalker romance with a bit of serial killer sprinkled in there, this is for you.

[Tatianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wicked Lies Grow Wildflowers by M.W. Smith is a debut dark contemporary romance about a hitman and the woman he becomes obsessed with while working a job. Blood is most certainly not thicker than water in this surprisingly sweet dark romance that explores family trauma, grief and friendship.

Maeren Laughlin is an introverted 28-year-old real estate agent, working hard to maintain her independence in the shadow of her narcissistic mother. She guards her heart and keeps most people at a distance.. and she's definitely not looking for love. Xander Morris is a hitman for hire, taking out the city's trash for big money while keeping a low profile as a tech expert. A chance encounter with Maeren plants the seed of obsession, and before he knows it, he's putting his stalking skills to good use.

Oh, and there's also a serial unaliver on the loose.

“You don’t want to know the thoughts I’ve been thinking. The voice telling you to run is right, and if you’re smart, that’s exactly what you’ll do. But I can promise that I’ll catch you regardless.”

I wanted to love this more than I did. I found the plot quite predictable resulting in a general lack of suspense where there should have been plenty. It was also a lot lighter than I expected, though the ending came through with some of the unhinged action I was craving.

Having said that, I loved Xander's character. He's a bloodthirsty golden retriever who only has eyes for his girl, and his internal dialogue made me laugh. The way he stalks protects Maeren, cares for her and supports her is so sweet and made me swoon. He gave me lowkey Dexter vibes.

I’ve never claimed to be a generous man but I’d give her anything she could ever want.

Maeren definitely challenged me. I couldn't connect with her and I questioned most of her decisions... especially that big one near the end with Xander. I hate to say it, but I actually didn't understand what Xander saw in her beyond the physical. I think I get what Smith was trying to achieve with her character, but she still drove me crazy.

My favourite part was definitely the Thanksgiving dinner! IYKYK.

I am so grateful to M.W. Smith for generously providing an advanced copy for review.

[Lizz_reads._ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED!!😍😍 Xander and Maeren have my heart. Xander the man that you are omg!! Ily 😘 Also the storyline of this book !? I absolutely devoured it from the start to the beginning. God I wish I could read this book all over again for the first time cause it’s so freaking good. I literally can’t wait to read more of M.W.Smith’s books cause this one is amazing 😍😍😍


❤️‍🔥TROPES❤️‍🔥

Touch her & d!e
Mc’s in their late 20s/ early 30s
Organised crime
Possessive and Obsessive MMC
Morally grey MMC (who's a sofie only for her)
Unaliver for hire
Stalker
He falls first

⚠️ TRIGGERS ⚠️

Abuse by a parent (verbal, physical, mental, emotional)
SA in the form of groping and kissing (NOT by the MMC)
Minor Gore
Murder
Stalking
Self Harm
Sexual Harassment
Sexual Language
Sexual scenes

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When I set my sites on someone, I always follow through. I’m a hunter by nature, and you might just be my most worthwhile prey yet.”

If walking red flag stalkers are your kryptonite then look no further for your next book boyfriend! Xander is going to meet all your needs.

Absolutely ate this up and great debut for MW Smith!

Also, if you are looking for something with fall/Thanksgiving atmosphere, this one delivers! They have a Thanksgiving to remember, and Xander gets quite the feast…iykyk

[Shelby Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection

If you're on the fence because it's a newer author like I was do not be! A fast passed sexy read.

Updating further for good reads. This book was so much more to me than I could have seen coming. I had a similar relationship with my mother so that hit so near and dear. I made some of my highlights visible because this author needs to keep writing so I can keep reading. Also like 99.99% certain there was a twilight reference and making a hired assassin watch twilight and say he’d watch hallmark Christmas movies. Perfect. No notes

Also because it’s a damn thing (IYKYK) just don’t tell me if you read this Lily 🙈

[Crystal Westrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! I couldnt put it down to begin with! This is my favorite type of dark romance! If you love dark romance and love for a twist to happen this is the book for you. You think you knew exactly what was happening then it all changes 🫣 it was so good! I highly recommend reading this book!

Also loved the Coyote’s reference from kansas! 🤣 I was able to picture it perfectly and felt like I was there when it was happening! Really helped me visualize it while reading!

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first stalker romance and I loved it! I couldn’t put this book down, but told myself to pace myself so I’d be able to take everything in. While I’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope, it didn’t bother me in this book! The character growth, Xander’s whole vibe, the writing, I loved it all! Thank you M.W. for letting me be an arc reader, I can’t wait to read more from you!

If you love “touch her and die” READ THIS.

[Stef(midnight_reads_addict) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word obsessed. I was so excited when I got this book on my kindle. Xander and Maeren are fire, their chemistry flew off the pages.

As soon as I finished the book I knew I was going to be an instant fan of this author and I can’t wait to read whatever she publishes next!

[Kailie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooof, this was for sure a top read for me this year! It is amazing seeing somebody that spent my childhood with amenable to create such an amazing book. To M.W. Smith, I am utterly and completely in awe of you and proud of you. Just know some nobody in little ole Iowa is still rooting for you.

[rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐️

Not bad for a debut novel! Imma sucker for stalker romances, this was a mix of that and romantic suspense elements 🖤

I found the storyline to be a a bit predictable and the fmc a little annoying. But I loved the mmc!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xander & Maeren
Touch her and ☠️
Stalker
He falls first
Morally Grey MMC

I love Xander and Maeren!

I believe this is the authors debut novel and it is great!

Xander is the definition of obsessive and possessive! He's 🔥🔥!!!

I'm excited to read more of this authors work!

[Nupur · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stalker Romance, and oh so lovely. The mystery that lingers throughout this book gave me chills and in a good way. I was just obsessed with it. Xander and Maeren were awesome together. The steam was just to the point. After devouring this book whole in one go, I was left wanting more. The trauma, the hurt, PTSD, and all the mental issues were laid out perfectly. I was in awe by the end. That beautiful happy ending. I would like to recommend this one to all.

[Maria Dassay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great hit for a debut novel!

Honestly loved this story so much. Had the right amount of suspense and plot but also some good spicy mixed in.

[Karalou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow😮‍💨

This book was so good!! I don’t give out 5* lightly, but this truly deserves it!! I wish I could’ve read it quicker but unfortunately work said no, otherwise I would have devoured this all in one day

This book is the perfect entry to dark romance for everyone unsure if dark romance is for them… and it’s a great read for literally everyone else who love dark romance/smut/thrillers!

🖤obsessed, stalker, serial killer mmc🖤

The guy literally bought a $2m house JUST so she got commission😭 who said true love doesn’t exist😩

My Highlights

🥀”Fuck, she’s lucky stalking women isn’t my thing—typically, at least”
🥀”I want to touch her, fuck her, please her.”
🥀”I’m a hunter by nature, and you might just be my most worthwhile prey yet.”
🥀”I’ve never claimed to be a generous man but I’d give her anything she could ever want.”
🥀”The voice telling you to run is right, and if you’re smart, that’s exactly what you’ll do. But I can promise that I’ll catch you regardless.”
🥀”I fish my keys out of my bag he grabs my arm and spins me around, pinning me to the door of my car with his body, caging me in with his arms.”
🥀”Five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, one you can taste.”
🥀”Which means she freaked out, threatened to dismember whoever is behind this, and then offered to have me move in with her.”
🥀”he tastes like the sweetest dessert.”
🥀”I grab her panties and ball them up before shoving them in her mouth. “As much as I love to hear those sweet screams of yours, Wildflower—I will kill anyone else who does. So we can’t wake the neighbors, now, can we?”
🥀“Thank you for letting me be the first to defile you like that.”
🥀“It was my honor to taste something so perfect and sweet.”
🥀“Frozen store-bought pizza happens to be my favorite meal. After you, of course,”
🥀“From now on, the only tears you cry are for me and the pleasure I give you,”
🥀“More than that. You’re mine, yes; my girlfriend, of course, but you’re also my everything. You’re my forever. There will never be a way out for you. It’s me and you together as long as we walk this earth. Even when our bones have turned to dust I’ll still find my way back to you.”
🥀”Our tongues meld together as our mouths fuse, and I know with absolute certainty that she’s mine forever. I want to taste her on my tongue until the day I die.”
🥀”She’s everything good. She’s all that’s right in the world. She’s fucking perfect. She. Is. Mine.”

[Shannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝙸 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑. 𝙸'𝚖 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚢 𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚢 𝚢𝚎𝚝.

In her debut novel, Wicked Lies Grow Wildflowers, MW Smith introduces us to Maeren and Xander, who find themselves in a bit of an insta-attraction situationship. Quite literally running into each other at a bar, Xander sets his sights on Maeren and we find out that he’ll stop at just about nothing until he makes her his.

Maeren, our FMC, is trying her hardest to make it on her own. She has one best friend, Sage, a quaint little apartment & a narcissistic mother who really is just quite a peach… When Sage takes her out for an evening at the club, she runs head first into Xander, who she immediately deems as a jerk.

Xander, our MMC, instantly is attracted to Maeren and her with, following her home and watching her throughout the remainder of the evening. When they run into each other again at the same club, he enjoys playing with her and making her squirm. I absolutely loved his sass and the fact that he was a stalker, but in his own little way, was a sweet one, at that.

Their tension built up so deliciously and I loved the added suspense/thriller moments with The Skinner & how that played out. And while I’m not big on the miscommunication trope, I did enjoy how this one was written, because it was less miscommunication as much as it was MISSED communication.. because those two didn’t really discuss certain things..

I digress, I loved this short, sweet stalker romance & am eagerly looking forward to more from MW!

𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possesive/ Obsessive MMC
He Falls First
Family Trauma
Older MCs
Organized Crime
Touch Her and Die

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I really enjoyed this story. It is a dark romance, but not as dark as some that I have read and that was a nice refresher. Sometimes ya girl needs a break from the pitch black darkness lol, and this was a great way to do that. Stalker vibes with an obsessive/ possessive MMC, but he's still a softie. He wins you over right away. You know he's technically stalking her but you're still kinda okay with it because he's watching out for her and taking care of her. (So, like, is it REALLY stalking if he's taking care of her too? 😅) He's never really cared about someone the way he cares about her, and it overtakes him completely. Maeren is used to watching out for herself, but she finds comfort in allowing someone else to care for her. She has trust issues, understandably, because of her relationship with her mother, but she navigates the best she can. Maeren and Xander have a very interesting dynamic, and as they get to know one another things start to unravel, and they quickly discover that there's a lot more going on around them than they realized. The spice is definitely spicing and the chemistry between these two is off the charts from the very beginning

It's hard to go into any more detail without revealing important plot points, but I enjoyed liked it and I'm definitely looking forward to reading whatever comes next! 😉 If you like dark romance, stalker romance and the touch her and die trope, you'll definitely enjoy this read!

Congratulations to M.W. Smith on her debut novel, and thank you so much for sending me an advanced readers copy of this book!

[Nicole Tetreault · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really solid dark romance! I really liked the serial killer aspect and how the crime side of the story connected to Xander & Maeren’s story. I did kind of guess early on who The Skinner was, but as someone who reads mostly thriller/mystery/suspense I know better than to trust the nice guy 😂 And even having my suspicions about who I thought it was, I still got super locked into the story once everything started to go downhill.

I did have a bit of a dislike with it all though, and I do want to preface by saying I recognize this is personal preference. Personally, I am not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope or anything that resembles it. Both the FMC & MMC weren’t communicating fully with each other for a majority of this book. Maeren was withholding a lot of her worries and alarm bells from Xaden, and had she just communicated to him, the plot wouldn’t really exist.

I also felt like the spicy scenes could have slowed gone a bit more in depth. I know not everyone is into super smutty books but I feel like this one was meant to be kinda smutty and just skated over those parts so quickly.

Overall, I’d still recommend the book. Like I said, I know that the things I didn’t love about it are personal preference, and the story itself is exciting, intriguing, and a really solid read if you’re looking for something dark but not too crazy and out there with the trigger warnings!

[Whitney Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting her author career off strong, Smith brings us a plot packed debut novel full of twists and turns to keep those pages turning. Oh, and don't forget the serial killer vibes to key into those dark romance tropes!

Maeren is a small-time realtor, just looking to take care of herself after a long life of trauma. She doesn't have a lot, but what she does have she has worked her whole life to be able to call her own. Unfortunately, Maeren can't seem to go long without constantly finding herself pulled back into the cycle of abuse at her mother's hands. Maeren has no idea of what lurks in the shadows of her everyday life, making her mother's toxicity the least of her worries.

Xander spends his free time cleaning up the trash running around town. When he meets Maeren at a night club, he can't let her get away. She's his, whether she knows it or not.

I'm looking forward to more from Smith, as this book definitely kept me interested from page one! If you like a bit of dark romance and trigger warnings or maybe are new to the dark romance world and want to just dip your toes in, this one is totally for you!

[M.W. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to everyone who’s read WLGW so far. I’m so glad it’s being received well and reading everyone’s positive reviews makes me super happy and proud of this debut and my first ever written work.

This story is very personal to me and has a lot of parallels to my real life (except the stalking bit haha).
So putting it out in the world was scary and still is but I’m so glad it’s in the universe.

Maeren may not be for everyone but she’s a version of my past self and writing her character and this story was extremely healing for me. So thank you for giving this story a chance.

And may you find someone as willing as Xander to help you slay the demons of your past with you.

🖤

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

no spoilers - I was so lucky to have the opportunity to read this book as an ARC, and it really was amazing!! It’s a debut novel, stalker romance which is riddled with the “touch her and die” trope. If you’re looking for a possessive “unaliver” for hire MMC, then here Xander is!!

I absolutely loved the writing style, Xanders PoVs were my favourite and such fun to read, it really felt like i was in his head. I enjoyed reading about Maeren too and I think the mental health rep woven into this story is really well.

This is a great little spicy dark romance, and i can’t wait to read other books by M.W Smith 🖤

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked Lies Grow Wildflowers is a swoon-worthy book filled with the sweetest MMC with very questionable morals and doesn’t shy away from a little light stalking.

Maeren isn’t looking for love, but a chance encounter changes everything.

Xander’s all about his work, until his mind’s suddenly consumed by the girl he shouldn’t want.

Even though they had an unconventional start, I thought they had such a cute relationship. He’s not a good man, but he definitely knows how to make your heart skip a beat.

Overall, it was a fun read, with enough dark elements to keep things interesting.

[abbiealwaysreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wild ride but one I really enjoyed. This is a DARK suspenseful romance featuring two very dysfunctional people who work well together. She’s a real estate agent with a narcissistic mom. He’s a killer for hire with a pseudo Dexter vibe going.

While not a fit for everyone, this book might be for you if you enjoyed the Never After series by Emily McIntire. There are moments of stalking (somehow consensual?!), stalking (not at all consensual), heavy spice, therapy (thank god), and just enough lovey stuff to counteract the darkness and suspense! Overall an interesting read if you like dark romance and suspense and are looking for a change of pace!

[Ali (bookishalireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love dark romance books, Xander is your man. He's super intense and possessive. I mean, obsessed doesn't even begin to describe it. He's a walking green flag. I really liked how the story unfolded, and the connection between the characters was there from the start. Plus, there were some twists and mysteries that will have you questioning everything. I love the dual pov and seeing both perspectives as the story is told. The spice is next level, but the plot itself is compelling and still holds your attention. You should pick this one up and read it.

[Susana Lam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a good dark romance, especially when the MMC is possessive and sets off a "you're mine" attitude. The story has a solid suspense storyline, where the FMC and MMC do draw you in.
I did find their romance a bit rushed, though, and would have liked to see it evolve to feel their connection. With that, there was little communication at times between the two characters.
Overall, the suspense piece just pulled me in, and I was eager to see if I was right on my guesses.
It's definitely worth a read!

[Paige Reading Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this book. I loved it so freaking much.

Maeren and Xander are such complex characters. Maeren literally goes through hell, and I will join Xander when he burns down the world for her. I love how obsessed with her he is 😈

I cannot believe that Wicked Lies Grow Wildflower is a debut, it was so well written and the way MW Smith brought it to life was beautiful. These characters feel so real. I cannot wait to see what comes next 🖤

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished binge-reading this. I've actually never really read this genre of book! I purchased on a whim looking for another book to read and I struck gold. When I tell you I couldn't put this book down I am not joking. I started reading the book at 11:00 today and just finished around 5:00. I abandoned all chores today to just read. There was no way I was putting this down. Please do yourself a favor and buy this book!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a debut novel! Stalker romances aren’t something I specifically look for to read but I enjoyed this one. I loved seeing the character development. The twists and turns throughout the book kept you coming back for more. Great read and I can’t wait to see this new author grow with her writing

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so disappointing. I’m sad because it sounded so good and right up there with what I love.

The characters were not likeable at all, the chemistry between Maeren and Xander was nonexistent and the plot was crazy predictable.

The writing was not too great either, it read like a teenager’s diary.