Undressed and Unsaid (MM Romance) by Avery Aster

Purchase link for book 1:

Unscrupulous: Billionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance (The Manhattanites Book 1)

*ARCs received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

 Undressed: Billionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance (The Manhattanites Book 2)

This is the first book I have read by this Author so I went in completely blind to the drama and mayhem of the high society life.
Lex Easton is a successful fashion designer running her own label while managing to stay out of the limelight.
Prince Massimo Tittoni is her hot Italian fabric supplier who at the twilight hour refuses to fulfill her order. Forced to fly half way across the world to confront him, she soon finds that her order is not the only thing he is refusing to fulfill.
This is a great holiday read and you will find yourself either laughing out loud or fanning yourself down. Avery does not shy away from her sex scenes and they are hot,hot,hot.
I really loved the male lead, the Prince is handsome as hell, loaded and Royalty, he also doesn’t suffer fools gladly and knows what he wants, what’s not to like?. I did, however, find it hard to warm to Lex, I understand that Manhattanites are outspoken go-getters but at times I did wonder what it was about her that the Prince found so alluring.
Thankfully, this book is told through dual point of view and it was this element that kept me reading to the end. If I’d had to stay in Lex’s head for the entire book I might not have continued.
In saying that, I did enjoy the concept of the story and the supporting characters are strong enough to carry their own, particularly Jemma who I am looking forward to finding out more about.

Unsaid: MM Romance (The Manhattanites Book 3)

Firstly, I was assured this novel could be read as a standalone, however, it is not solely about Blake and Miguel so I would advise reading the previous books in the series first so you have an idea of the back story. If you just want to immerse yourself in the main characters only, this would involve skipping certain chapters which would be a real shame.
I have to say I was looking forward to this instalment from the Manhattanites and I was not disappointed. Blake and Miguel have been friends for many years but Miguel still feels the bitter sting of the rejection he received from Blake all those years before, the reason for this is he is still very much in love with him.
When Blakes life begins to unravel, his friends decide that Miguel is just what he needs in his voyage of self-discovery. Miguel would love nothing more than to help his friend but is he willing to risk his heart in the process?
Blake wants Miguel but he is harbouring a secret and is terrified that if Miguel finds out, he will lose him forever, just as they are starting to open up to each other.
At the heart of this story is the real consensus that we all just want to be loved, no matter our sexual orientation or gender and the reader will be compelled to read to the end to make sure Blake and Miguel get their HEA. This book does, however, touch on some serious issues. I do understand reading some other reviews that some have wished this topic was not brushed over and delved into in more detail and I can understand that but personally I think the author did well in highlighting a taboo subject but in keeping with her style of writing. Avery writes sexy stories with a large amount of humour thrown in and I think to give more detail would have changed the tone of the whole book. In saying that Avery does not shy away from her sex scenes so if this is your first m/m read you are sure to have your eyes opened!This book is not for the faint-hearted or easily offended.
In amongst the passion and heart ache, the rest of the characters are back bringing their usual doze of drama, mayhem and humour we have come to expect.
All in all, I would recommend this book and I look forward to reading the rest in the Manhattanites series.

Reviewed by Emma

In a matter of seconds my entire world changed, and it was in that moment that I stopped living and simply began to exist.

In my grief, I sent a letter to the first boy I ever loved. I hoped in writing it I’d find some peace from the nightmare I was living, some solace in my anger.

I didn’t expect him to write back. I wasn’t prepared for his words, and I certainly wasn’t ready for the impact this soldier would have on my life. A deep-rooted hate transformed into friendship, and then molded into a love like I’d never known before.

Sergeant Devin Ulysses Clay did what I couldn’t: he put the shattered pieces of my heart back together, restoring my faith in humanity and teaching me how to live again.

But now that I’m whole, I have a decision to make. Do I return to my life as I knew it and the fiancé I left behind, or do I walk away from it all for the only man to ever break my heart?

***

I’ve been living in hell, but you won’t hear me complain.

These men depend on me, as I do them, and this brotherhood is the only family I’ve ever known.

The Army saved me from a callous mother and a life on the wrong side of the tracks that was quickly spiraling out of control. So unlike most of the men in my platoon, going home wasn’t something I longed for.

I was content overseas, spending my days defending this country that gave me my life back. Fighting became my new normal … until her.

A letter from Katie Devora—a letter that I almost didn’t open. Her words put a fire back inside of me that I didn’t know I’d lost. She gave me hope during a time when I was fighting every day just to stay alive, and now it’s time I fight for her.

A Lover’s Lament

It’s taken me about 2 days to be able to write this review. I was trying so hard to find a negative (yep your read that right) about this collaboration, because in my experience the only collaboration that works is Ker Dukey and DH Sidebottom. In the end I found one, well… it’s not really a negative, it’s just in personal opinion A Lover’s Lament was too damn short!!

I wanted needed more.

It’s obvious from the get-go that Katie and Devon are soulmates. The prologue sets the story perfectly, it draws you in, it rips your heart out. Apart for 10 years Katie and Devon are brought together again after the death of the man who played a hand in  pushing them apart.

I suck in a sharp breath at the sight of his name. “Impossible,” I murmur, sitting up in the recliner. There is no way that there’s more than one Devin Ulysses Clay walking this earth. It’s impossible. Right?

This book has it all. I laughed, I cried and found myself stepping outside to grab some air every so often, a long cold shower was also needed at one point.

“I love being inside of you,” he whispers before brushing my hair out of the way and kissing the back of my neck. ” You feel so fucking good, it hurts. This is perfection. You’re perfection.”

Devin’s PoV makes it feel like you were there. The writing is so vivid, it really is incredible. I could smell the dirt and grime in the tents he bunked in and the heat of the sun beating down on his face. There’s certainly no skimming over the details.

Katie, could at times be a little unlikable, although she did redeem herself. She seemed immature in comparison to Devin. Even taking into consideration her heartbreak, her behavior could be off-putting. You could feel the love she had for Devin.

It’s a poignant second chance romance, one of re-awakening and forgiveness. It’s both heart-wrenching and heart warming. It’s full of love and loss as well as hope and despair. It’s a story of love that never died.

“I feel it, Katie.” Everything around me blurs as tears fill my eyes. “You do? Because I feel it, and it’s powerful and overwhelming and I thought I had moved past it, and then all of a sudden, there it was again, and…” 

ARC Provided in exchange for honest review.

Release Date 14th October

Pre Order Not available.

Book 1: Pretty Hot

Book 2: Pretty Liar 

Kate Saunders didn’t believe in happy endings, especially after finding her fiancé between another woman’s thighs. So when she met Kai, she was sure he’d be nothing more than a hot one night stand. Charismatic, dominant and dirty mouthed, Kai wasn’t supposed to be her Prince Charming. Maybe more her Mr Right Now. Against her better instincts, she’d fallen in love.

Kai makes a little wrong look a whole lot of right, but he’s learning that good looks, charm and a talented tongue don’t always get you what you want. Wealth, privilege and family are sometimes their own bonds.
It’s not a forbidden love, but it’s a troubled one. One that might force Kai to reveal his not so pretty side . . .

Join Kate and Kai in Australia as they embark on the final leg of their journey in the heart-pounding, seat squirming, and hilarious conclusion to the trilogy. Lies, secrets and shocking truths will be revealed as they discover the destination isn’t always the most important part of the journey. Sometimes the best bits are just where you get off.

*I was given an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*

I would recommend reading the series in order as Pretty Things follows on from where book 2 ended,and for at least the first 30%, as much as I loved Kai in the previous books, I began to question that love! Due to the events that made Kate return quickly to her native Oz, her own insecurities/trust issues coming to a head, Kai followed her, and I felt he was cold/using his dominant nature over her. However, on re-reading for a second time, I could understand his actions because of how he truly felt about Kate:

“How could you say you love, yet think so little of me? Did you ever, really? Trust that I’d do you no harm”
“I know such a lot about you Kate. Know how to push your buttons, make you come hard. Know how to love you.  But you? You seem to know nothing about me.  Do you know how that makes me feel?”

In the same way,I could appreciate how Kate felt:

“Because I know he’s trying to punish me, push me to submit-and I want to.  I also know he’s better at this game than I’ll ever be”
“Because I don’t trust myself around you-self preservation dragged me from that hotel, without leaving,would I have had the strength to walk away…”

A return to Dubai,and a new life together but again interference from Faris (Kai’s father) means not all goes to plan, add into the mix cousin Essam and the(b***h) Sophia will they will get a HEA. As ever, Niamh(Kate’s friend) adds some light relief, as does Kate I laughed out loud at many times and of course the intimate scenes between Kai and Kate are as H.O.T. if not more than before.

What I love about all three books is the way the author writes. You get the feel of the lifestyle and wealth,the exotic location(s) and the characters created. The Epilogue is perfect for Kai and Kate and I am hoping it is not the last we see of them as I am sure there is more to tell.

Kai “Because for me,there is only you…”
Kate “I love you Kais Al Khalfan”