Step into the sultry, suspense-filled world of Kris Calvert’s Sex and Lies series, where Southern charm meets heart-pounding romance and danger! This romantic suspense saga, led by the dashing FBI agent Mac Callahan, weaves love, mystery, and the allure of Alabama’s sun-soaked plantations into an irresistible escape. Perfect for fans of steamy thrillers with a side of sweet tea, this series keeps readers hooked with its blend of passion and peril.
Calvert, a former copywriter with a knack for vivid storytelling, crafts a world where every glance is loaded, and every secret could be deadly. Let’s dive into the origins, stories, and lasting charm of this captivating series!
How Sex and Lies Began
Kris Calvert, a Lexington, Kentucky native, traded her copywriting career for novel-writing after some coaxing, channeling her love for alliteration, pearls, and Southern wit into the Sex and Lies series. Launched in 2013 with Sex, Lies & Sweet Tea, the series—also known as Moonlight and Magnolias—draws inspiration from Calvert’s Southern roots and her flair for crafting charismatic heroes. Her background in advertising shines through, infusing the books with snappy dialogue and evocative settings that make Alabama’s landscapes as vivid as the characters themselves.
Calvert’s goal was to blend the slow burn of Southern romance with the high stakes of suspense, creating a series that feels like a warm summer night interrupted by a chilling mystery. The result? A saga that’s equal parts swoon-worthy and spine-tingling.
The Heart of Sex and Lies
The series kicks off with Sex, Lies & Sweet Tea, where FBI agent Mac Callahan returns to Alabama to bust a white-collar crime ring. His plans for a quick mission unravel when he meets Samantha Peterson, a Southern belle with evidence he needs—and a charm he can’t resist. Their sizzling romance unfolds against a backdrop of danger, setting the tone for the series’ blend of love and intrigue.
Subsequent books like Sex, Lies & Lipstick and Sex, Lies & Pearls deepen the stakes. In Lipstick, Mac and Samantha’s idyllic life at Lone Oak plantation is threatened by a psychotic stalker, Hector Quintes, whose grudge blurs the line between friend and foe. Pearls shifts focus to Polly Benson and FBI profiler Leo Xanthus, exploring secrets and passion in New Orleans. Later, Sex, Lies & Diamonds introduces Tristan Bleu, a playboy agent navigating mafia ties and a fiery romance in France.
Themes of loyalty, hidden truths, and the clash between duty and desire run throughout, all wrapped in Calvert’s signature Southern flair. Her vivid settings—think sprawling plantations and bourbon-soaked evenings—ground the suspense, while her characters’ emotional depth keeps readers invested. The series’ steamy yet heartfelt tone makes it a standout in romantic suspense, offering both thrills and feels.
Why Sex and Lies Resonates
Sex and Lies has carved a niche among romantic suspense fans for its ability to balance pulse-pounding action with tender, authentic relationships. Readers praise Calvert’s knack for crafting relatable characters, from Mac’s roguish charm to Samantha’s steel-magnolia strength. Reviews highlight the series’ addictive pacing and Southern authenticity, with fans calling it “a perfect mix of mystery, passion, and charm.”
Calvert’s storytelling resonates because it celebrates the South’s complexities—its beauty, history, and contradictions—while delivering universal themes of love and resilience. The series’ loyal fanbase eagerly awaits each installment, proving that even a niche saga can leave a lasting mark when it’s this heartfelt and thrilling.
About Sex and Lies
- First Published: 2013 (Sex, Lies & Sweet Tea)
- Number of Books: 10, including novellas
- Setting: Primarily Alabama and New Orleans
- Genre: Romantic suspense with Southern charm
Ready to sip some sweet tea and unravel a mystery? Grab Sex, Lies & Sweet Tea and dive into the steamy, suspenseful world of Sex and Lies today!