I've read two other books by Torre and really enjoyed them; however, I found myself disappointed in Hidden Seams and could not finish. I did not like Avery's character at all and (although maybe this changes later on) I didn't like how Marco is portrayed as "gay" for the purpose of conning people.

This was my first dive into this authors work and what an introduction it was. This was such a ride. I loved the way the book itself was written, as well as, the flow of the story.

I really enjoyed how we got to see the struggle Marco went through while fighting his desires and needs, while pretending to be gay.

Enter Avery who may or may not be the daughter of the man Marco bearded for.

This was such a great, wild ride.

Alessandra Torre is a go-to 1 click author for me and this book was no exception I loved it every single word.

Imagine if you will, somebody saying to you, I will give you millions, no, billions of dollars would you want it? Of course you would you are not a fool!

What do I need to do would be your question?

"Well you need to be seen with me in public and you need to be seen with me in magazines, oh, and you need to be seen with me on the TV and any public appearances that I do."

"Brilliant what's the catch?"

"No catch really, you will be treated like a king, wined and dined at all of the most famous & expensive restaurants, dressed to the 9s in beautiful fantastic clothes .........oh but you do have to pretend to be gay, like forever!"

For a chance of a billion dollars this is Marcos life.

Avery lives in Detroit she is what you would call a small time crook, she is known and is friendly with some very bad people, however she is not bad herself she's only trying to help others.

Avery was adopted when she was a very small child and eventually moved away from her adoptive parents.

The only thing she has of her father is an old worn photograph, imagine her surprise when she sees her father on the TV when she is in a local bar!

Avery decides to go and find him and here is where the story begins.

Sparks Fly and Seams Rip with this little cracker of a book go buy it!

Hidden Seams by Alessandra Torre is my first book review in the One Wicked Romance a Week reading challenge that kicked off earlier this week. I have to admit that this is also my first time reading Torre's work, though I've watched Hollywood Dirt, so can I count that in too? 

In Hidden Seams, Marco Lent has spent a decade posing as the gayest of gays, except he's super-ultra straight. He's one of the most ambitious characters I've ever read. Marco keeps his eye on the target and nothing stops him from getting what he wants. He'll do anything to get rid off anyone or anything that threatens the end result he's worked so hard for.

Avery is the simplest of the two, sort of anyway. The life she leads is frowned upon and can possibly even get her murdered if she ruffles somebody's feathers the wrong way. She's got a big heart and helps foreign girls with jobs while providing them with a place to stay. But her good deeds aren't enough. She's always wanted to know who her father is and when she looks at the picture her mom gave her she realizes her father might be the famous designer who's just died.

The chemistry between Marco and Avery from the moment they cross paths is palpable. Marco's struggle between keeping his best friend's legacy alive and intact vs. the strong pull he feels toward Avery and the fall out if he gives in feels real.

Marco is more than just complex. He may be an ambitious son of a gun, filthy rich, selfishly sexy, but he's also compassionate and someone who knows his flaws and isn't afraid to recognize and accept them.

I thought the author did an amazing job in bringing these two opposing characters together as they complemented each other's personalities and made the story work in a way I didn't imagine. I'm not sure what I expected when I picked up this book, but I'm glad I did.

Hidden Seams,  Alessandra Torre

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, Erotica
I've read quiet a few AT stories now and love her writing style. She doesn't dumb down novels, but has a rich linguistic style and plots that are at times quite complex. That makes for an absorbing story for me, and the type I love to get lost in, taken away to someone else's life!

I wasn't sure what it was Avery was doing for work at first. I get the idea of how she is providing work for the girls, helping them build a new life without getting sucked into the underbelly of crime that their position often brings, but the logistics of it, the money laundering etc I just didn't understand...but that didn't matter, it provided a plausible framework for what she was doing. I felt for her childhood, a difficult situation and one that's left a lasting effect on her.
Then there's Marco, lived a very open, very public, very deliberate lie for a decade, now everything is coming to him but Avery threatens that. He was a jerk to her, but then she'd caught him unexpectedly and I could see why he distrusted her. He wanted to protect Vince's memory too, and Avery's appearance could tarnish that indelibly so I did see why he was so awful to her.

The sensuality between them though was incredible, tangible right from the first meet. The encounters were perfect examples of Alessandra's ability to write hot and erotic sex, without subjecting the reader to page after page after page of the same words and actions. So many “erotic” novels do that, constant bland and repetitive sex scenes held together by the thinnest of story-lines, but Alessandra's stories are not like that. She has the perfect solid, intense stories, plots that hold hidden surprises, with carefully spaced sensual sex scenes. That works so much better for me, makes for a far more interesting read. I like reading well written sex, but for me the story always has to come first.

I didn't foresee how this would all play out, just had the “whichever way it goes one of them loses” mentality, and couldn't see how they could have a relationship. However it wraps up so perfectly in a way I simply hadn't considered, ties in all the loose ends and makes everything going forward work so well.

The only failure for me in this story, which drops the half star is that I have a love for angst, for that point towards the end when the couple fall apart, when its all lost, and looks like the romance is off. There were a couple of shaky moments, but no real pressing issues to cause that and for me it makes the story just that little bit less.

Stars: Four and a half, excellent read, erotic sex without being overdone, and a solid story-line backing it.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

An amazing read. Hidden Seams is a beautiful story that you can't help but fall in love with. Marco is hiding behind his mentor for sometime. He is hot and sexy and most importantly loyal. Avery is on her own and looking for answers. Once Marco and Avery meet you can't help but see those sparks fly. Secrets come out and a legacy is unveiled. Avery and Marco are made for each other. I love how well they vibe. Hidden Seams is a beautiful sexy read and will not disappoint at all.

This was such an intense book! Everything was intense : the characters, the setting and of course the plot.

Marco Lent has been living a lie until Vince Horace decides to leave the world. Marco was an intense character. He has been pretending to be someone he was not and even when Vince dies, he has to keep up with the act because people have already accepted him in his pretense and now if he decides to come out of the lie, how will the people take it? Will they think that he is lying or that he has been lying until now but now is being honest?

I have always been fascinated with the fashion world. This book lets me sneak into the fashion Empire and see it's grandeur with my own eyes, and also realise that it's not as sparkly and perfect on the inside.

Avery McKenna, an orphaned girl who has been searching for her father until now finally is able to connect the dots but comes to know that he is already dead. Still confused as to whether Vince was really her father or she had gotten her facts all wrong, she drives into his world to uncover the secrets. But who would have thought that this orphaned girl will be chatting with the soon to be inheritor of the billion dollar fashion Empire inside a Rolls Royce? All it took for her was to break her nose and feign a fainting fit.

Marco who hasn't been in close contact with a woman for so long, is suddenly starting to feel restless in presence of Avery. As the air thickens between the two, the subtle brushes against each other and the touches couldn't be mistaken for anything other than sexual tension.

Will Avery discover the truth? Will she find her father? And if Vince is actually her father, what will happen to Marco who is about to inherit his property?

It's better that one reads the book to find the answers to these questions. I sure did!

I have read a string of books like these lately and they have all blended into one and seemed to be the same, however this book had a fresh new storyline that I hadn’t read before and I really loved it. I loved Avery and it was so refreshing to see a strong woman portrayed in this genre. This book was very steamy and just what I needed for a light read.

I liked this read! It was steamy and it tugged at my heart strings. Marco has a lot of angst and Vince has a lot of power and money. Marco meets Avery under suspicious circumstances. He has an empire to run. He has been groomed and fit for his new role as his mentor and partner has passed. He has a lot of changes to make and a promise to keep and by a contract being signed can change all that. Marco extremely loyal is found agonizing on how to live his life without him. Avery is searching for her father. Will she be able to find her answers without succumbing to Marco. I enjoyed this read. It was fast once I started reading. I have never NOT enjoyed one of Alessandra Torre's books. It always pulls at something in me. I feel with her character's and hurt with them too!! Can never go wrong with her books!

I received this ARC from the publisher via Net Galley at my request for an honest review. Thank you Net Galley!

This is a well written but very unexpected kind of romance. I really like that about it. I don't think I've ever read a book with a story line like this and I have read a lot of books. I enjoyed it so much! I will definitely read more by this author.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book was everything. It was sublime, in your face, naughty, nice, sexy, romantic, fun, dramatic. I could go on and on. At the start I was not sure where this was leading (with Marco and Vince); there were hints but I thought 10 years, he lived like this for 10 years! and Avery of my god what a kick ass heroine, she was so awesome and someone I want to be when I grow up. I wanted the story to end and I didn't at the same time.

Hidden Seams by Alessandra Torre is the story of Avery and Marco.
This was a really exciting story that I did not want to put down. We have Avery who is trying to learn who she is and it makes her vulnerable to that but at the same time is very street tough. Marco is very arrogant and at first not so likable. Really they are opposites but they seem to fit together. I really enjoyed their story and watching it come together.

What a great idea for this book from Ms. Torre’s husband. It’s special and unique. I read some other reviews that didn’t like all the background in the beginning of the book. But it is needed and to me, helped frame the story perfectly. The time line flows with the budding romance. It is more of an instant love, but it works. Marco and Avery are great together. And as usual, the writing written wonderfully.

Wow, this wasn't what I was expecting at all. This storyline was so different from anything I've read lately. I loved Marco. He was unapologetically rude and it just worked for his character. Avery was so relatable, even though I've never experienced what she has in life and that speaks to Torre's impeccable writing. I think my favorite aspect of this book is that both Marco and Avery take what they want despite the consequences. Both were missing things in their lives and they paid the price, so their happily ever after was that much more rewarding. This is the first book I've read by Torre, but it won't be my last!

ARC provided by NetGalley.

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 was 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

I had read The Ghostwriter a month or so ago and I was SO impressed I immediately added this book to my TBR. I hardly ever read erotica, but in the spirit of broadening my reading, I request this book and was very excited when it got approved! This story is so sexy, steamy and made my face go scarlet when I was reading it in public transport. It was SO ADDICTIVE I almost finished in one day. While a lot of the plot parts felt too rushed or required a bit of forgiving characters for being so obnoxious from time to time. I had some problem with the rudeness of Marco and how he just throws money at everything (but then again, if I were a billionaire, maybe I'd do that, too). But in any case, I really liked Avery, too! The romance was SO rushed, but it didn't feel out of place in the novel at all. Was rather sweet how both developed feelings so quickly, in my opinion. I will definitely read more from Alessandra Torre!

I didn’t read the synopsis for Hidden Seams. I had no idea what it was about. I only read it because Alessandra Torre wrote it. I’ve been a huge fan of hers for a while and I was intrigued by this one, simply because of the cover. Which is freakin’ gorgeous, by the way. And while I enjoyed it, for me, this one didn’t live up to her other books.

For the first 10% or so of the book, I was so incredibly confused. Once I understood what was going on, it was much smoother sailing. I’m used to being in a bit of a fog when reading her books. Torre is a master manipulator and has always been able to fool me. But aside from the confusion in the beginning, I actually could tell very early on what was going to happen. It was much more predictable than any of her other books have been. When it came time for the big reveal, it was more of a “well…duh!” moment for me, so what should have been sort of the climax of the story felt uneventful.

I also didn’t feel a huge connection between Marco and Avery, which was a complete shock to me. Normally, Torre’s characters have so much spark and chemistry that they jump off the pages. I’m typically all but fanning myself. And while there were moments where there’d be a spark, it seemed to quickly fade. So when the time came for emotions to be declared, I didn’t feel it from either of them and felt sort of confused about how we’d gotten there.

On the flip side of all of this, I do have to say that Torre’s writing was solid. She really does have great talent and skill. It’s obvious that the foundation is there and it’s strong, it’s just that the filler this time didn’t make me fall in love the way that I’ve become accustomed.

Overall, Hidden Seams was a good, enjoyable book. I definitely lean more towards like than dislike, despite what I said above. I’ve just started holding Torre to a higher standard, and she missed the mark. For me. But I think that for others, this might be a winner. I look forward to her next book. I hope she blows me out of the water.

A quick mental escape from reality as readers get to delve into the world Torre creates. Steamy, twisty and sexy! Admittedly, I was a bit offput by the intro because it wasn't my style but I am so glad that I stuck with it. Marco is dreamy and completely adorable! received a free copy on behalf of Net-galley.

Alessandra Torre’s latest contemporary romance, Hidden Seams, is set in the fashion industry. The author has again shown her readers the strength of her storytelling talents. While Hidden Seams doesn’t have any major twists, it does have plenty of minor twists and a very satisfying storyline

Hidden Seams is told in dual narration by the main characters Marco Lent and Avery McKenna. The leisurely start to the novel allows for thorough character development. The gorgeous Marco Lent caught the eye of fashion mogul, Vince Horace. The two struck a mutually beneficial agreement that ultimately resulted in a long, loving relationship. Strikingly beautiful and street smart, Avery is financially successful but alone. Her rough beginning makes it a bit difficult to believe how smoothly she blends into Marco Lent’s multi-million dollar lifestyle.

Marco and Avery have vastly different backgrounds. They meet under the most unlikely circumstances, and yet, their chemistry is undeniable. At times, Marco behaves like the biggest jerk to Avery, however, his animosity is primarily about denial and self-preservation. In fact, both characters are highly motivated by self-preservation, and their surface animosity just barely masks their overwhelming appreciation for one another’s fine, fine looks.

I loved how this story evolved and the characters blossomed. This romantic, engaging story is humorous and sexy, and the conclusion is nothing short of perfection.

I absolutely loved Hidden Seams from start to finish because it had a very unique storyline. It really captured my attention from the very first page and form that moment I could not put the book down until the very end. This story had many twists throughout it that really surprised me. The characters within the story I absolutely loved and the chemistry between the main character was off the charts, This story reminded me why Alessandra Torre is one of my favourite authors to read.