Title: Unscrupulous
Author: Avery Aster
Publisher/Year: Ellora’s Cave Publishing 8/14/13
Length: 241 Pages
Series: Manhattanites #2
Overview
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 executives’ careers in his well-groomed hands. Nothing is beyond Warner’s reach…until he meets her. Stunning, tantalizing and perverse, Taddy 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. Before she can love him, Taddy must meet her worst fears head-on or risk losing it all, including herself.
My Thoughts
Well, after my feelings of sadness and dissatisfaction with book 1 of the series, i had really low expectations for this book. I have to say that sometimes that’s really needed to enjoy the next one. I’m not one to shy away from a challenge and before reading this 2nd installment, that’s what i considered it to be. I had received the ARC via Netgalley but was a bit hesitant to read it since i wasn’t really excited about the style that the author wrote. Happily i can say, i don’t know if it’s my mindset, or just the difference in story, this book was a success.
In book 1 we were focused on Lex and her troubles as a successful fashion designer who wasn’t financially successful. I think that the fail there was that there was an over-cockiness about both leads, Lex and Massimo that really was off putting until the very end. In this story, we are focused on Taddy who comes off as brash in book 1, but really is quite likeable in book 2. As expected, she has her fair share of baggage, parents who ship her away when her father admits out loud that he doubts that he’s the real father, and she finds herself emancipated along the way. We get to learn more about her relationship with Blake who we’ve met before and a bit more about Vive whom i’m assuming we’ll really get to know more about in book 3. I also liked that we got a supporting character in Kiki that was unexpected because she’s so naive and innocent (true to some of the asst level in NYC), and she’ll be interested to read more about.
From the male perspective, we get Warner who exudes raw sexuality yet his own insecurities. He’s successful but not forthcoming with it – he doesn’t take the stage and stand in the spotlight, and it’s not because he’s truly uncertain of himself and his success, it’s just not his style and he’s gotten burned in the past so he avoids it.
these 2 come together on a last minute change of travel plans, and they don’t even know who the other is during that time. they have a prelude to passion that’s interrupted and then part ways unfulfilled. fast forward a few months, their paths cross again in the south of france due to unfortunate circumstances that work to their favor. Taddy is called to bail Kiki out of a situation and it’s at one of Warner’s properties. So when this happens, you know that they will acknowledge chemistry, get heated when they find out the identity of the other, and who knows where it will go.
What i liked here is that although things seemed to go a bit fast once you get them out of their holiday mode – it’s ok. They are both successful and busy and realize that it’s never going to be the norm for them. What i also like is that they seem to balance out one another really well and it’ll be nice to see where this can go for them. Who knows if it’ll work out outside of the bedroom, but it’ll sure be interesting to see.
so, Avery Aster – i’m glad that i gave you another chance – because this 2nd book was something that i’m glad i decided to read.
