A billion-dollar fashion empire, and it’s about to be mine… matter. I’ve played this game for a decade. I can continue the charade a little longer, keep my hands to myself and her body out of my mind. I can keep my secret until the ink dries and everything is mine.
Or not.
more
Each time I read an Alessandra Torre novel, I am more and more impressed. Her stories are always thought provoking and intriguing. I know I have never read a story like the ones she writes.
She gives us unique storylines and characters who you want to hate but love anyway. Hidden Seams is no different. I was interested in this story once I read the blurb. Once I started reading the story I couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to say much about the storyline because as with all her books, you will want to experience and unravel all that is in this story for yourself.
This story will have your mind reeling and your emotions all over the place. I laughed at times, I cried in parts, I definitely blushed, but I also fell in love while reading this story. Ms. Torre is a fantastic writer and is someone every reader should experience.
Hidden Seams is Ms. Torre’s latest standalone novel. It is told in Dual POV and can be read and enjoyed without reading any of her other books. In this story you will follow the journey of Marco and Avery. This is a story about finding oneself. It is a story that is filled with lies, secrets and betrayals, but also humor, love and sexy times. I thought this story moved at the perfect pace and that the flow of the story was effortless. You can’t help but get sucked into this story and these characters lives. After all the secrets are revealed, will Marco and Avery be able to find the happiness they both deserve?? Read this story to find out.
I loved that we got to see some cameos from other characters in some of her other books. You don’t have to read those books first because they are in no way related to Hidden Seams, it was just nice seeing them again. I hope to see Marco and Avery again in the future 🙂
So if you are a fan of a unique storyline and a novel full of secrets then this is a book you should read. Also if you are already a fan of Alessandra’s writing, then you don’t want to miss out on this latest GEM!!!!
Alessandra is such a versatile author that you never know what kind of story she’s going to announce she’s writing at any time. When she first announced this book, I was immediately intrigued with the blurb. And when I started reading it, the story itself was so much more than I could have ever imagined. Alessandra has come up with a really unique, out of the box concept in Hidden Seams. Marco Lent has been working toward the ultimate goal for the past ten years. He’s sold his soul, lived a lie, hated himself, all for a specific inheritance. And just when he’s about to reap the rewards for what he has sacrificed for all these years, someone comes along and throws a huge wrench in the wheel.
Avery McKenna is one kickass heroine. Boldly unapologetic, quirky and intelligent, she’s been on a quest for the past six years of finding out who her real father is. And when she thinks she has it figured out, the path to finding answers lands her squarely in Marco Lent’s lap. Literally.
The chemistry and attraction between Marco and Avery was off the charts. Based on what’s going on, these two really should be enemies but they can’t control themselves when they get together. Which really doesn’t help either one’s cause, but they just can’t deny the intense feelings they form for each other.
This story is really engaging and I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what was going to happen. Was Avery going to get the answers she has been so desperately searching for all these years? How drastic will her life change when she finds out who her father is? And how will that discovery affect Marco? It could possibly negate everything he’s done for the past ten years. The lies he’s had to tell, the side of himself he’s had to hide, the legacy that is within his grasp.
What I really liked the most about this story is the underlying emotion, the depth of character she injects into Avery and Marco. Yes, we see these two people, one searching for answers to her paternity, the other trying to hold onto a dynasty he has been intimately involved in for the past ten years and was poised to take over. We also see deep inside Avery and the ideals and causes she works so hard and passionately for. And Marco, who has spent the last ten years living a lie in public, but who also developed a deep affection for the man who mentored him and set him up to take over his dynasty. How do these two people find a way to be together when doing so means that Marco has to reveal the lie he’s been living for the past decade?
If you’ve read Alessandra’s other books, we get a nice little treat with cameo’s from a couple of her other book characters. Two of my favorite, I might add…
Another great read from Alessandra. I really enjoyed this story!
It’s such a fun, sassy, cheeky read, almost like the writer herself!
I’m sure this one will be optioned for a movie, very soon. The story is so involving, I couldn’t leave reading it ! Written so well, with a lot of research, I raced through it and disappointed that it ended too soon. I want more of Avery McKenna/Horace’s adorable attempts to seduce Marco Lent, the very Gay other half of Vince Horace and I also want more of their roaring fire of a chemistry. Wow ! Just Wow! His anatomy is of a perfect Greek God, which needs to be worshipped night and day, with tongue, lips and hands…..and i volunteer!!!!!
“God your ego is…” I let my eyes fall to the massive organ that hangs between muscular marble thighs. “Huge,”
If I was dating a guy who looked like this naked, I’d put statues of him in every single room.
And a statue on my lawn, and a gargoyle in my pool and on Times Square Billboard too . You’d think Marco must be the happiest guy on Top Of The World, living in a palace with an army of servants ready to kiss his ass, but he’s miserable actually. This scrumptious piece of sex-muffin is hiding a secret
In this world, the designers are the gods and lives are choreographed, backs stabbed, promises and threats made, all to try to climb onto one of those almighty thrones. I’m the worst of the bunch, and know the sacrifices more than anyone. The last ten years of my life has been orchestrated, a web of deceit and lies, all for one of those thrones.
It was sad, his dogged pursuit of a reputation.
It was pathetic, my agreement to participate.
And in steps this bumbling,sugar-tits Godess,Doc-Martens wearing Dodgers Fan from Detroit who lands with a thump on his Rolls Royce, bleeding emotions all over his expensive custom interior, shatters his peace of mind, his inheritance and his carefully constructed facade of life.
He is gone !
I loved the book so much , like fell in love with Avery(does that make me a lesbian, I don’t care )
I would’ve loved if the story was a bit longer, I felt it was too short. And Marco to have held out more . But who can remain standing in front of this pint-sized, bad ass girl from the bad part of Detroit. She can handle Russians and deal with thugs, all in the same breath!
Criminal Avery socks Grease Monkey Marco in the heart with her Cupid’s Arrow, and he’s gooey eyed and so are the readers **sigh**
Thank you Alessandra for a fantastic book
4.5 “Come-Apart Seams” stars
I just love enemies to lover’s book. I also loved how easy you might relate to either one of these characters. Both are likable characters. I love the many layers that each chapter uncovers… Marco & Avery’s story was a true rollercoaster from the very beginning until the end.
This was not what I thought it was going to be! Mind you it was very good read, but the author took way to long to get where she was going for while, but once she got you where she wanted ….. Hot damn
To say that This Lks very interesting….. was only the tip of the iceberg. There were so many lies & Hidden secrets in between Seams. But they were so fun to undercover
Where to actually start! A battle over a fortune! There was 800 million dollars at stake here… That caught your eye huh
She’s searching for her biological father
How that search turned into a one-night stand with her potential fathers partner it’s beyond me this is one tangled web
Marco & Avery, what can I tell you about these two without giving away too much!
She Money launderer, who at the same time helping immigrant women. He is a Fashion designer, who been living lie for so long he can’t truly remember who he really is!
I’m sorry that I’m going say it once again: This read might have started off kinda slow, but once it reaches its point, Wow …. And The funny thing about these two is, they fix together like night & day, but some how this author made them work – That is what I truly love about this author
To make things more complicated, on their self’s they struggle to keep their hands off each other. To say this was one crazy ride is putting it mildly
—————————- Enjoy —————————-
Hope you enjoy this read & also always keep in mind this is just my opinion+ Also I wouldn’t never discourage anyone from reading this book.
* I want to say thank you to the author for sharing this book with Taste of Romance reading group.
———– Happy Reading ———–
Paulette Review
Alessandra Torre didn’t disappoint with Hidden Seams at all. In fact she kept me on the edge multiple times. Than there were times that I wanted to yell at Marco and Avery for being lost but than they found their way. Absolutely worth reading it and looking forward to start something new from Alessandra Torre.
Alessandra continues to shock and stun me with the change in style and sound of her books. The thing that most impressed me with Hidden Seams was the change in tone between Marco’s chapters and Avery’s chapters. They had different rhythm, different style; I don’t think many authors achieve that.
The subject matter is refreshingly different. I certainly haven’t read any plot like this before. Marco Lent lives the life of a gay man so he can inherit the fashion empire of his mentor, best friend and very very gay man, Vince.
Together they conquer the fashion world and live a decadent lifestyle with grumpy English butlers, Rolls Royce cars and staff to turn down their beds, dress them and pander to their every whim.
Along comes Avery McKenna with a threat to take all he worked for away with her lush curves and witty no bullshit banter. It’s a car crash. Literally. A perfect storm with golden statues, red bras, and one hell of a sexy man who might be gay and might not be.
Such a good read. I do always have to find a muse for a book character and I found the most, perfect, perfect, perfect Marco. Jerome Adamole – check him out and thank me later!
When I first started reading this book, I wasn’t too sure about what I was getting into. The more I read, the more mesmerizing this book became. I loved the flawed characters, I loved a glimpse at the ridiculous privileged life. I loved the HEA.
Hidden Seams started out a little slow but at 15-20% it definitely picked up and I was hooked thanks to Marco and the cool as a cucumber Avery. She definitely surprised me with her line of work. Their first meeting was fun and unexpected again thanks to Avery. When she sets her mind to something she will achieve it. Right off the bat I felt their chemistry and they were so much fun.
Marco’s history with Vince was intriguing especially his motives for agreeing to be with him for so long. Their relationship had so many layers.
It was great to see Marco out of his element when he met Avery and she showed him her world. They made me laugh and swoon.
For some reason I lost my connection for the last 10% but the epilogue definitely made up for that.
3.5-4 BadAssDirtyFamilyStars
Today seems to be the day for me to catch up on some reviews that somehow slipped through the cracks. There will be a couple of minor spoilers in this review, I apologize in advance but I know I will start to rant once I start writing because I really disliked a couple of things.
Hidden Seams is not one of my favorites by Alessandra Torre but it was a good read nonetheless, for me it felt as if it was lacking somehow. Don’t get me wrong there was a good story line but I guess I just didn’t connect with the characters. Avery helps immigrant women but not in most the charitable way because she is most definitely skirting the law, and Marco….well lets just say he has a secret and he is set on protecting the legacy of his mentor, Vince Horace.
I felt at times that Marco needed a good smack in the back of his head, I hated the way he continually said that he was going to stay away from Avery because of his secret and then yet again was with her, lying to her over and over again while sleeping with her. I guess you could say Avery was as well because she was keeping her own secrets but when she admitted to believing that Vince could possibly be her father I think Marco should have done a few things differently. And he didn’t which made me mad. he was keeping a secret for the sole purpose of keeping his pockets filled. Honestly with the amount of money left to him he could have given Avery half of it and still lead a very pampered life.
There were plenty of sexy times between Avery and Marco but again I didn’t feel the connection or chemistry. Sorry. I love Alessandra Torre’s books and I think this is the first one that left me feeling flat. I would still recommend this book to readers that enjoy Contemporary Romance especially fans of Alessandra’s because as I stated at the start this had a good story line, I just couldn’t connect. Happy Reading!!!
Marco Lent spent the last ten years sacrificing his life and soul to inherit a fashion empire. When he decided on this path, it was with a boy’s eye on the prize not a man’s hunger for the reward. And within days of his notorious mentor and lover being laid to rest, he meets a brunette temptation that can topple the entire thing. Be sure to pick up Hidden Seams. There’s always a pul, tug and a twist in fashion…
This debut novel started off with a bang. Betrayed had me hooked from the start and guessing who it was throughout the whole book. Everytime I thought I knew who it was she’d throw in a little something to make me second guess myself.
A mystery filled with secrets, and betrayal that will keep you on the edge of your seat right up until the very end. I can’t wait to read more from this first-time author.
I liked that this one was different. I thought the storyline was pretty unique and I liked all the characters. Avery was super cool. I wish I liked Marco a little more but I just felt I knew way more about Avery than I did Marco. Oh, and this was one sexy story too. Heck yeah those two were smokin’ hot together. The epilogue was great! It gave me the warm fuzzies and it ended in a great place.
I have to say that I really enjoyed Hidden Seams. I read it in a day. It flowed beautifully and the unusual storyline kept me invested in the love story between Vince, Marco, and Avery. I have to say that I thought Marco was a bit of a pr**k on occasions but I couldn’t help but fall for him and his ‘attributes’. Under that occasional spoilt boy persona was a man who had lost someone that he truly loved. Enter Avery, unaware that she is about to stumble into a world of secrets that one slip of the tongue could result in the loss of an empire and Vince’s creditability in the fashion world and gay community. But Avery is looking for something else, something that Marco and all his ‘attributes’ will try to deter her from finding but eventually help her find. I loved the banter between these two and how they try and fight the attraction for each other but as always if it’s meant to be it’s meant to be. A romance with a twist. Well worth a read.
Hidden Seams was such a fun read, with amazing characters. I was in love with Avery from the start, she intrigued me so much and I just couldn’t get enough of her. Alessandra writes the best characters, and she does an incredible job in hooking you into the story. I liked Marco as well, but not as much because he was awful a couple of times. There were a couple of scenes where I wanted to hit him for acting that way, and making Avery mad/sad. However, Avery is a very independent and strong woman, who knows how to defend herself. She is also laid back with a huge heart. She was very unique and I loved her super original not so legal profession. It was for sure one of the highlights in this book. She had no fear and was very strong. This resulted into Marco not knowing what to do with her multiple times. These two balanced each other out. The attraction between them was super hot. They were explosive together (in a good way). Especially Marco couldn’t resist himself around her.
So overall this was a great contemporary romance. What kept me interested were the awesome main (and side) characters and their unusual professions. Also their fun and sexy banter wasn’t too bad either. Furthermore, I was glad that there were a couple of emotional scenes, plus a twist that I didn’t see coming. The only thing that kept me from rating it higher was the development in their relationship. I wanted to see more growth in their relationship as a couple. The last quarter felt a bit rushed which left me somewhat unsatisfied. However, I was glad that an epilogue was included because those make me very happy. A couple of characters from Alessandra’s other books were mentioned and made appearances in this book, so that was fun as well. If you are looking for a fun and sexy contemporary romance, then make sure to pick up this book.
Marco is always hopeful that his woman is willing to go away with him, “then, let’s go. Pack a bag and I’ll have you naked on a bed within twenty minutes.” It isn’t just Marco who has good ideas, his woman has a few herself, “good. Because Grease Monkey Marco is pretty damn sexy.” I pull at his neck and kiss him, then roll out and away from him. “Now. Let’s find a hotel room without a dozen Russians in it, and work out every fantasy I have.” I liked this book, I poved Marco, I loved that he and Avery drove each other crazy.
*ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Hidden Seams was one heck of a surprising book. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the promo piece on the book. I’ll admit to being truly surprised at the twists and turns of the story between Marco and Avery. Without giving away too much I’d say Hidden Seams was complex, unconventional, super steamy, fun and passionate! A must read for Alessandra Torres fans. A definite 4.5 stars
Hot • Sexy • Fun • Endearing
I had a fabulous time with Marco and Avery.
Of course this was very well written. I’ve read enough books by this author that I’m comfortable saying “She doesn’t disappoint!”
This had just the right amount of angst, sex, swoon and emotions. I loved being able to understand the road that took them where they were. I felt the pain and regret they felt due to choices that were made. How do you change or move on from a life you convinced yourself you wanted but no longer want?
LOVE IT!
Absolutely loved this original well written story and characters!! The LBGT aspect was awesome!! Cannot wait to read more by Torre!!
Alessandra Torre took a risky move publishing Hidden Seams. The male lead’s public persona is not who he really is and his thoughts about his physical and internal conflict could potentially offend an entire community…or maybe the community will see this story for what it is and say they’d feel the same if the roles were reversed. Who knows. Regardless, based on the author’s notes, Torre knows what she’s doing and is well aware it was one of her riskier moves. She has worked long and hard to earn the security that allows her that freedom. One of the subtle themes of this novel is “Be Bold”, and that’s exactly what she did. She also stresses that the characters she has written are flawed, and their views and actions do not reflect her own opinions or history. Sweet Alessandra Torre, of course we knew that . Torre has her own bookshelf on my goodreads profile because yes I think she is an absolute goddess. Hidden Seams again reminded me that she can write just about anything and turn it to gold. Admittedly, I was distracted by my own fear for Torre because of this plotline, but my distractions quickly gave way to more page turning that made the time fly by. Overall, Hidden Seams is an engaging and smoking hot romance with lots of tension, fashion, and inspiring themes. Check it out.
Thank you to the following for permitting me access to an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Hidden Seams. This generosity did not impact my honesty when rating/reviewing.
Sources: NetGalley
Author: Alessandra Torre
Publisher: Select Publishing
Genres: Erotica, Romance
Pub Date: January 18, 2018
At first I didn’t know what to make of Marco. I had mixed feelings about him. I wanted to hate him, yet I felt bad for him. The secrets that he had to keep and he couldn’t be himself made him lose who he was. He knew what he wanted and he grabbed the opportunity that had presented itself to him by Vince. Avery is a strong, independent character. She tries so hard to not let her wall down. I couldn’t help but feel bad for her because she feels lost. She doesn’t know where she came from (biological family). And then the hoops that Marco makes her jump through is frustrating. It made me want to guide her and give her strength. You can feel the bond and connection between Avery and Marco. Such a wonderful book.