“He thought I was his muse. Turned out, he was mine too.”
Maggie Stevens is done feeling objectified.
After spending her entire life in the spotlight and climbing the high fashion ranks as a model in LA, she’s willing to leave it all behind for a fresh start. Moving to Seattle seems like the perfect solution.
A clean slate.
New adventures.
Endless opportunities.
All is going according to plan. … adventures.
Endless opportunities.
All is going according to plan. Until she meets the drop-dead gorgeous cooking instructor who delights in adding to her misery.
Desmond Blake is determined to make a name for his culinary school–one that speaks to his hard work and undeniable passion.
The day his food photography hobby garners attention from an unexpected source, he knows his dreams are finally within reach. An obstacle he never sees coming? The sharp-tongued bombshell with a distaste for all he stands for.
When Desmond accidentally captures a photo of Maggie during a moment of weakness, he starts to see there’s more to the fashionista than meets the eye…
Sometimes what can be seen through the lens is a skewed version of reality. A bent perspective. Manufactured, therefore losing all sense of authenticity. And sometimes all it takes is a different angle to see what’s right in front of you.
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I loved every minute of this angsty enemies to lovers romance.
I was really excited to read this book, the characters are amazing and I loved reading about the previous couples as well.
Maggie and Desmond are amazing and I loved their enemies to lovers relationship. Maggie was really cool and I had a lot of fun reading while she fought with Desmond.
I’m really glad I got the chance to read this and it’s definitely a book I recommend to everyone, the story and the characters are truly the best.
Through The Lens is the ultimate enemy to lovers romance. Desmond and Maggie have the best story. I was complete hooked from the very beginning. Even though these two had chemistry from their first meeting, things quickly turned sour. They bickered like an old married couple. Desmond is the sexy chef with his own culinary school.
Maggie had she share of embarrassment and uncertainty for her future, which was why she was in Seattle. Now while I did like Maggie, I was a little frustrated with her. Mainly because I loved Desmond so much. Who could be mean to him?
This story was so great. There were a few tears that I shed, but when Maggie and Desmond eventually gave in to each other, their relationship was everything!!
This book is part of a series of standalone books. Under the Bleachers and Up in the Treehouse. You do not need to read those to enjoy this book. I’ve only previously reas Up in the Treehouse and loved catching up with these characters. But I most definitely will be going back to read the other book.
5 star book that left me wanting more!!
I love Desmond and Maggie’s story – from beginning to end I was enthralled in the world KK Allen has created. The story has rich characters, fantastic dialog, and so much angst and romance.
Maggie is looking for new direction in her life and going to Seattle to be with her sister is a place where she can regroup and hopefully move forward. She also has to deal with her past – as well as her sister’s fiance best friend and business partner Desmond. The cocky chef that wants to put her in her place every chance he gets. If he just wasn’t so sexy she may have an easier time ignoring him.
Desmond doesn’t have time to deal with Maggie – he has a business to grow and she is too much of a distraction. When his buddy comes up with an idea to have Maggie help the business Desmond knows he is in trouble.
I love Ms. Allen’s writing – she does a fantastic job developing her characters. She also writes wonderful dialog that feels like things real people would say. The story is told from dual POVs which I love and helps the reader to understand both characters so much more. We also get to see a few old characters again that I love which is always fun. All in all, I highly recommend Through the Lens – its definitely worth the time!
Yep. I missed this series! And it was nice to revisit all of the characters from the other books.
This story is about Monica’s sister and Zach’s best friend, so Desmond and Maggie have a complicated relationship to start. And they are both put in a position to need each other despite the very obvious distaste for each other. I really enjoyed watching them start to thaw to one another.
I will say there is one scene in particular in this book that is SOOOO DAMN Hot. Whew!
It is an emotional story that had me shedding some tears too.
Just really loved the premise of the plot as well, so interesting. <3
I have not read enough romance with Chef as the main character, and I really should start reading more because the amount of food talk is just so satisfying to read. And of course, makes me crave for the food!
But onto this book, it has the perfect amount of sassy banters, but at the same time it has the perfect pace for a slow burn.Desmond’s confident definitely amp up the fun in the book.
Desmond and Maggie, both of them had a tough pasts. Maggie’s dealing with her future and her daddy issues. While Desmond’s dealing with his troubled dad. They each carry their own emotional baggage that’s why they’re avoiding getting attached to each other. But can they fight their feelings towards each other?
Maggie is a model who is taking time to reflect on her life, and she decides to take a cooking class where the instructor is Desmond. These two do not hit it off but there is no denying the chemistry between them, but can they move on from enemies / lovers? This is a beautifully written story which this gifted author has done an outstanding job in penning, and her attention to detail and her story are realistic. I was totally captivated throughout this addictive tale, and I highly recommend for all.
Being a fashion model, Maggie is used to being in front of the camera but has always felt unhappy being scrutinized at every turn. As a chef at a culinary school Desmond has always had an appreciation for the way food comes alive when photographed. When they met there was a spark that flew – unfortunately it was hatred for each other. But after the two finally see the people behind the facade do they understand that not everyone is what they seem. Not every photograph shows the true picture. With characters that seem so realistic and are so lovable this was a great read. It is so much more than just a story, it was a life lesson we all could use.
OMH! First of all, this is book 3 in a series of connected stand alone stories. I haven’t read the first two, but follow the author on IG & from the moment I saw this cover & read the blurb, I HAD to read this story. I’m not a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, in general, because I really can’t get into characters being cruel to one another and then *poof* they’re in love. With this story, although there is quite a fair amount of angst, and Maggie & Desmond do enjoy antagonizing one another, neither crosses the line into being mean, which I appreciate.
Maggie & Desmond both pulled me in from the minute they appeared on the page. I loved Maggie’s confidence & my heart broke for her the more I learned about the battles she was facing. Same with Desmond. I cheered for his successes & wanted to hug him at his internal feelings of needing to be “more.”
Throughout their story, they have witty banter and and unexpected emerging respect for one another as they get to know each other & toss away their pre-conceived ideas. I love the progression of their relationship, and of their relationships with others in the story!!
For fans of the series, scenes with Chloe & Gavin, and Monica & Zach will give just the right amount of “where are they now” I think. And for anyone picking this story up as I did, there’s just enough that you feel like you know them w/o being “lost” to their stories.
There’s also just the right amount of steam – the story’s focus is on Maggie & Desmond’s relationship, but there are definitely some “burn the pages” scenes in there as well!! All in all, this beautiful, heartfelt story will give you some tears & some laughs, and leave you with an overall feeling of a *happy sigh* – at least, it did for me!! : )
So, before this book I was a K. K. Allen virgin.
I loved this book. It was sweet and sassy, and so easy to read, while still maintaining a real storyline, that actually evolved.
It’s not just a romance, but a bit of a coming of age story as well as coming to terms with the past. Both Mags and Des feel like real people, with depth and character.
I also really loved the fact that unlike most romance novels, there isn’t a big twist that tears the couple apart somewhere around 80% of the book, resulting in a grand gesture to get back together. It’s just life.
Now, I want to catch up with Monica and Zach’s story.
5 stars and an dirty-saying apron
I was so excited to finally read another book of KK again after I devoured Up in the Treehouse a few weeks back. I‘m also soo excited that this book takes place in this world that I love so much.
Because I read Under the Bleachers before Up in the Treehouse I kinda forgot who the characters were. But my confusion was soon gone and I fell in Love with Desmond and Maggie. Even though I found Maggie to be a pain in my ass the first fee chapters.
I love how different both are and yet the same. Both have troubles with their past. Maggie more so than Desmond in the beginning and I was glad when she finally let him in and told him about everything. Every scene between those two was precious.
Not to forget pur beloved characters from the books before which I was excited to see again. Their continued story did not disappoint in the slightest.
Another 5 in this series!
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review!
Maggie’s moved in with her sister – all set for a new beginning, a way to start over after her modeling career took a nosedive. But now she doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life. Taking some cooking classes could help to direct her, or not, because the chef instructor is an arrogant jerk who seems to think Maggie is some flighty fashionista who isn’t taking the classes seriously. Of course she notices how gorgeous he is, but it doesn’t matter because he’s nothing but a jerk to her and nothing could ever happen with the man whom her father took more of an interest in than he ever did in her. Right?
But when the opportunity arises for Maggie to help Desmond with his new cooking show, working in such close confines together may just show off other sides of their characters to each other and allow them to know each other in ways neither could have foreseen before.
Desmond and Maggie are an interesting couple. So full of antagonism at first, falling slowly along the way as they get to know each other better, and fully revealing the amazing and well rounded characters they really are. I like the unresolved tension as they fought (Maggie fought) the pull, and I like how sweet they ultimately ended up being when they fell in love. Altogether a first rate love story, on par with K.K. Allen’s best.
This book was sheer perfection. Desmond and Maggie were both beautiful, strong, and just damaged enough to be extremely relatable and impossible not to love. Their chemistry was off the charts, and I felt every volt of tension between them and an intense connection to them both.
Allen has a very distinct voice, crafting complex characters that feel like friends from their first introductions and always finding the perfect balance between intensity and lightheartedness. It makes her books hard to put down, and Through the Lens was no exception. I was addicted from the first page, and alternately teared up/giggled/blushed through the entire novel.
I loved the inclusion of Maggie’s dad in her emotional journey, too. Dealing with the pain from her childhood added true depth to her character, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t cry like a baby through some of their interactions.
This is an absolute must-read (as are all of Allen’s books, to be honest) and might just be my favorite of hers so far. I’d give it a million stars if I could
When I read a KK Allen book, I fall in love with what she writes about. In this case, I want to cook (I so cannot cook IRL) and take photos. Or maybe I just want a good looking man to give me cooking lessons, IDK. I love the banter between Desmond and Maggie. I don’t think it’s exactly hate. I think they like to drive each other insane, but their chemistry is massive. I think they push each other, in a good way. I love the usage of the camera throughout the story. It was very clever.
Enemies to lovers perfection!!!! Love their banter, their fight, growing from their pasts!! And when they finally are together- they stayed together and it was beautiful!!
Desmond and Maggie’s story makes you laugh a bit, cry a bit and just feel. KK Allen gives another amazing story, watching 2 people deal with their pasts, how they are now and how they grow. This book is a stand-alone and if you haven’t read Up in the Treehouse and Under the Bleachers, go read them now. These characters are complex and real and when they are open and honest with themselves and those in their lives…… it’s just beautiful!!
I loved last passage – what an amazing end! Another wonderful KK Allen book
This was a fun, steamy read! These characters are completely irresistible! I just loved them! From the first page to the last, this story was breathtaking and captivating. The author has outdone herself!
The angst, sizzling chemistry, and the heated banter between Desmond and Maggie is off the charts in Through The Lens! If one author knows how to pull off a hot, angsty read, it’s K.k. Allen, she never disappoints. Had I not been extremely sick, I would have tore through the pages of this book at lightning speed. However, a sinus and ear infection, coupled with vertigo didn’t allow me that luxury.
Once I dove in, I was immediately drawn into the book, the first chapter took a hold of me and I knew I wouldn’t be able to set my kindle aside for quite a while. I found myself completely immersed in this book, the characters, their back stories, and the hidden struggles each one had. Desmond and Maggie may seem like they have it all to the outside world, but both have internal battles that wage a war within themselves. K.k Allen is remarkably talented when it comes to her characters, each one is extremely relatable to the readers, and that is what makes an exceptional writer.
Desmond and Maggie! These two had explosive chemistry upon first sight, yet neither acted on it. As a reader, you could cut the sexual tension with a knife—a butter knife, it was so palpable! Add in the sarcastic, witty banter, and you’re watching a lit firecracker, slowly burning, until it blasts into a million different gorgeous colors in the night sky. These two characters have heat and it’s oh, so hot!
Through The Lens is a complete standalone, but I’ve read the two books that came before it: Up In The Tree House and Under The Bleachers. Getting reacquainted with the characters from the two previous books made me feel like I was catching up with old friends. There’s something special about each of the characters, each one has their own unique story. Each one stays with you after you’ve finished their story. I loved how K.k Allen incorporated all of them in Through The Lens, we got to see a glimpse of where they are now.
I definitely fell head over heels in love with Through The Lens, it had everything in one book. Not only is it an angsty, slow burn, super hot read, but it’s also an emotional read too. It touches on a lot of subject matters, things that are important for all readers. I highly recommend Through The Lens, it’s my top 2020 read and I know once you read it, it will be your top read too!
Through the Lens is a beautiful and heartfelt read that hooks you from the first page. I really fell in love with Desmond and Maggie. Their romance is just over the top. They have the perfect chemistry together. Together they have the pages going up in flames. Just believe me when I say this book gives you just all the FEELS – love, passion, sexiness and so much more.
Definitely another great book by KK Allen and hopefully not the last. Can’t wait to read the next book she has in store for us.
Desmond and Maggie were attracted to each other but for some reason they also hate each other. The only problem is they are tied to each other by the people on their lives. Maggie needs a place to stay and ends up living in an apartment right next to Desmond and she has to help him in cooking. The longer they work together the more they see that the initial impressions were wrong but the intense attraction is still burning. Can two guarded people open up to each other ? Great characters and storyline. Awesome book.
Oh, how I wish I was the wordsmith that K.K. Allen is, so I could eloquently gush over this story. There were so many nods/aspects of different romance tropes within this story, and they worked together ever so well! A model, a chef, reality tv, photography, some daddy issues on both fronts, a little sports, and “enemies” to lovers were thrown in the literary mixing bowl and came out like a dream.
The reason why I put quotation marks around enemies is because I didn’t really see Maggie & Desmond in that light. Did they come from different worlds? Certainly. Did they have preconceived notions about each other? You better believe it. Those miscommunications and all that came with them just added fuel to the angsty fire, in my opinion!
This story just…worked. It was perfectly balanced, like one of Desmond’s painstakingly crafted recipes.
Well done, Ms. Allen!