Tuesday, October 29, 2013

REVIEW: UNDRESSED & UNSCRUPULOUS BY AVERY ASTER

Book 1 in The Manhattanites series.

Milan’s notorious playboy, Prince Tittoni, seems to have everything—Lamborghinis, exotic women, palaces throughout Europe and business success. Ramping up his fabric company to go global with a new apparel brand, he ruthlessly stops supplying fabrics to the American client who inspired the collection. But once they meet, what’s he willing to give to get her in his bed?

Upper East Side designer Lex Easton has already endured her fair share of hard knocks. She’ll be damned if she’ll let an Italian stud muffin knock her down. So what if she named her favorite vibrator after him? With Fashion Week approaching, she’ll do whatever it takes to secure the fabrics she needs to make her clothing line an international success—even sleep with her rival.

Lex’s Louboutins are dug in deep to win this war. All’s fair in love and fashion!

Inside Scoop: Though the hero and heroine remain monogamous, their Prada-wearing friends indulge in a ménage a trois and other fashionable sexual fun and games.

A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora's Cave


Published February 15th 2013 by Ellora's Cave
*Received from publisher for review via Edelweiss*

Purchase Undressed:
Goodreads | Amazon

We decided to read these novels back to back ...hence our 2 for 1 review! Yep! \m/

Undressed is the story of Lex Easton and her quest to keep her fashion design business afloat. Her father, now deceased rock -n- roll legend, left her with nothing but bills and her mom, Birdie has been doing nothing but racking up bills and Lex is barely able to make ends meet. Luckily her designs are selling and she has great friends (Taddy, Blake, and Vivi) helping her promote her business...unfortunately the fabric that she desperately needs in order to create her clothing has been m.i.a. and she's weeks away from her show at New York's fashion week.


The story starts off with a bang, and before we know it she is in Italy tracking down this Prince. Who thought she was a man. So she's globe trotting and going to take this sexist pig, her words!, down a few pegs with his internationally known ego. I liked her pretty much immediately, and with all of her friends being huge personalities I felt bad for her now and again with all the hardships she's went through in her life to get where she is today. 

When it becomes apparent that she's going to have to go to Italy and confront the owner who manufactures the material, we know we're in for a ride. She makes it to Italy, somehow ends up staying at the swoonworthy (aka Masi) owner's house and the sexcapades begin almost instantly. Lots and lots of sexcapades--so if you like smutty sex...finish this review and begin downloading in 3...2...1...NOW. Uh, yeah. Things go in an incredibly sexy direction for quite a while there! Stick your head in the freezer...is a good recommendation! ;) 


Between the sex, the story of Lex and Masi revolves around her procuring the fabric, him negotiating a deal with her company, and both of them trying to figure out if and how they can have a relationship. She appears to want a no strings attached sexcation and he wants love and all of the trappings of a relationship. As they try to figure it out a media scandal threatens things and fashion week looms.


The story line picking back up in the second half of the book, and taking it in a deeper direction, really brought things in a great direction for me. It was another hit for Lex, and dang I felt sorry for her. But I was very very excited for the rallying of her friends and even her mother, because that relationship was a troublesome one to wrap my head around! 

Can they both get what they want? Will Lex save her business and her finances? Hmmmm...read to find out. In case we forgot to mention, Massimo is a steamy hot Italian, so you might give him a try! 


Shelley: 3 Stars

Courtney: 3 Stars

Our Review of Unscrupulous:
Book 2 in The Manhattanites series

At thirty-three Warner Truman is one of the richest men on the planet, a spa mogul who buys and sells resorts at will. He holds powerful executive’s careers in his well-groomed hands. Nothing is beyond Warner’s reach…until he meets her.


Stunning, tantalizing, and perverse, Taddy Brill captivates Warner’s carnal desire like no woman he’s ever met. A self-made millionaire, Taddy is tougher than steel, more brilliant than diamonds and, at twenty-seven, she’s never depended on a man for anything…until she meets him.



The more Taddy plays with Warner’s affections, driving him to erotic heights, the more she is confronted by a dark past. But before she can love him, Taddy must meet her worst fears head-on or risk losing it all, including herself.



A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora's Cave






Published August 14th 2013 by Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
*Received from publisher for review via NetGalley*

Purchase Unscrupulous:
Goodreads | Amazon

Unscrupulous is the story of Taddy Brill. Taddy, best friends with Lex/Blake/Vivi of Undressed fame, is seemingly living the dream. She's young, single, successful and living in NYC. She's widely recognized as a leader in her profession and is in high demand. She's got all of the trappings of wealth and success. Her friends are genuine and trustworthy. So what's the problem?

She can't find the "Big Daddy" she's looking for. Not to be mistaken with a sugar daddy...no way. This girl is a self made woman, and won't be letting any man, no matter how good looking make her a kept woman. She's looking for a tall, rock solid muscle of man that can pick her up against the wall and....you get the picture. And boy does she find one! 

Taddy has been so busy building her career and burying hurts from her past that she has yet to find love. Sure she's had lovers and lots of casual sex...but nothing fulfilling. The thing is, I don't know if she was actively seeking it until she has a run in with "Big Daddy"  Warner Truman on her vacation. Even after she feels the sparks, she is able to walk away and put him out of her mind...for the most part. Warner, on the other hand, cannot forget her and actively searches for her for months. Little did either of them know that they lived in the same city.


Manhattan does seem quite small for these "Manhattanites" since they all run in these high class, uber rich circles that Taddy seems to have on lock. I think this is the Gossip Girl-fast forward ten years-ish. Parental problems, men problems, money, and jet setting all over the world whenever they feel like it seems to be the theme for this group of friends. It felt really good that while the sexy times in this book were just as steamy and wild as book 1, there was a lot more story to go along with it that made we want to know even more about this group of friends.

As months go by and neither of them make their way back to each other, they both slog through their jobs allowing their minds to flit to their one night of fun. Soon an unusual circumstance throws them together and Warner refuses to let his opportunity slip through his fingers. As they talk and get to know each other, Taddy's damaged heart provides some barriers that Warner must get through in order for him to have any chance with a future with her. 


The humor was again in full force with this installment, but as Warner tries to break down Taddy's walls like Shelley said...there are a ton of feelings going around. There are many tender moments, and a few tough love moments as Taddy asserts herself as the independent woman that she is and just moves on from things that have been hurting her for a really long time.

Will Warner show Taddy that he can be trusted with her heart? Time will tell. I hope! He's hot! 


Avery Aster writes strong, sexually demanding women and tender, loving men. Her heroines and heroes have filthy mouths and interesting sex and are best reserved for adventurous readers. Ready to suspend reality and become a Manhattanite? Read these books. Described perfectly in this paragraph! Eeep! 


Shelley: 3 1/2 Stars

Courtney: 4 Stars 


About the Author
AVERY ASTER pens erotic romance for Ellora's Cave. As a resident of New York's Upper East Side and a graduate from New York University, Avery gives readers an inside look at the city's glitzy nightlife, socialite sexcapades and tall tales of the über-rich and ultra-famous. "I write about what I see in my metropolis that never sleeps--Manhattanites on the quest for a passionate thrill," Avery says. "By and large, my characters are drop-dead gorgeous, ripped straight from the headlines and on the hunt for their next conquest."

UNDRESSED #1 (Lex & Massimo) launched The Manhattanites series, exploring people's forbidden desires of lust and longing. UNSCRUPULOUS #2 (Taddy & Warner) is the highly anticipated prequel coming August 14, 2013. Also, stay tuned for the sequel with UNSAID #3 (Blake & Miguel) coming winter 2013. 

THE MANHATTANITES is an extended modern erotic romance series of full length juicy melodramas multilayered on love, friendship, scandal, and drama to the hilt. If you grew up reading Jackie Collins, Judith Krantz and Danielle Steel you will devour this series as each book may be read as a stand alone. Fans who watch TV shows like Girls (HBO), Mistresses (ABC/BBC Drama), and The Bold & the Beautiful (CBS) love The Manhattanites series. Avery's characters are over the top. They have raunchy sex, speak their minds and always get what they want.


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