World class Violinist Ava Wellington initially meets Bianca Vega when she is mourning the death of her wife 4 months earlier. They have an instant connection, but it doesn't go anywhere because Bianca is in mourning. Fast forward 2 years. Ava's manager has hired BJ Vega to write a Biography on Ava. Ava is dead set against it because she has a secret that she is not willing to share with the world. When she is introduced to BJ - Bianca she decides she wants to get to know this woman better and agrees to at least an article written about it. Bianca is now set to travel with Ava around the world to get to know her better so she can write an article or biography.

I thought this was a good and easy romance to read. I have a weakness for a romance that allows the two MC to have sex early on in the book. The chemistry is there and Bianca and Ava are allowed to show this chemistry in the bedroom early on. Oh and they had plenty of sex, but it was very tasteful. Overall, I liked the fact that this was a light, easy and fun read. I surely wasn't bored to death reading this one. I must say my major issue was the ending seemed rushed. I would have liked to have seem a little more development with them getting back together.

I give this one a 3.75 rating.

This book has amongst the most interesting acknowledgements ever. The author shares a little bit of the genesis of the book, the selected locale and something of the character development with us before getting into the usual round of mentioning and thanking everyone associated with the book and with their lives.

Ava Wellington was a sensation when she became a world-class violin soloist at seventeen. Now in her thirties, she is still a leading soloist but her manager believes that her visibility needs a shot in the arm and the way to get that is by getting her biography written. Bianca Vega is the chosen biographer. Ava has a secret that she wants to hide from the world and is unwilling to have a biography written. But she is somewhat smitten with Bianca and they come to a temporary agreement of a trial article before deciding on the book.

The premise is okay. Our problem is the instant, intense attraction that Ava feels towards Bianca when she first runs into Bianca who, at that time was a mourning widow. That one-off meeting sparks an attraction that is more than alive two years later when Ava meets Bianca as her would-be biographer. Another issue is that the writing is inconsistent. There are times when we get involved with the two women and get into their relationship and chemistry, but on most part, the books skims it all. The dialogue seems contrived and the relationship a tad too formal. Also, but for a chance meeting in the end, it would seem that the MCs would’ve let their relationship die a calm death.

On the plus side, it’s nice to read a celebrity/commoner book where the celebrity is not an actress. It is also nice to read a book where the conflict is not forced but an integral part of the story from the start. A plot point that is slowly but surely coming to a head.

We didn’t particularly hate this book, but didn’t particularly love it either.

Ava Wellington, concert violinist, is informed by her manager that he has employed the renowned biographer, BJ Vega, to write her biography. She’s dead set against it until she meets her and realises they’ve met before. Ava is still not comfortable because of the secret she’s kept for years.

The story has a really linear narrative and the simplicity of it makes it a very easy-to-read romance. Ava and Bianca have loads of chemistry and the sex scenes are among some of the better ones I’ve read. Their story is told, to a large extent, through their dialogue but it lacks the same tension and enticement that their intimacy has. There was an over-simplification in some places that had the potential to be explosive and give a real insight into both Ava and Bianca and I can’t help but feel it was an opportunity lost.

Overall it’s a pleasant enough story with a familiar trope.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Somehow I have the feeling I have this story before. Maybe because the plot isn't anything particular. While most lesfic follow the same formula, I felt this one didn't even have a hint of surprise in the plot.

Ava is a violinist with a secret she meets Bianca on happenstance one day and never sees her again until two years later when Bianca is hired by Ava's manager to write Ava's biography. Ava only agrees on certain terms just so she can spend time with Bianca. The two get to know each other better while Ava struggles with keeping her secret.

I ARC received via NetGalley and in exchange for an honest review.

Ava is a violinist and travels all over touring with her crew. When she learns her manager hire a someone to write her biography. She doesn't want her biography written because she hiding something that she doesn't want reveal.

Bianca is a journalist and is hired to write Ava biography. Bianca is starting heal after her wife passing when she meet Ava they both realize they met before two years ago when Bianca loss her wife as they both realize they still feel a connection.

This was a good read but I still think it coulda been more because certian parts to me could've been avoided if they talk it out instead. First book from this author but i can't wait to read more.

Without Pretense intrigued me immediately, featuring two intelligent and capable artists, a violin virtuoso and an author. Their initial and brief introduction was ... odd, and the instant level of comfortable familiarity was a stretch to get on board with. Their attraction builds as Bianca tags along Ava’s European tour, but neither character is capable of honest and forthcoming communication. They predictably fall apart, all which could have been avoided if they tried talk it out like adults. Still, this was a polished endeavor and both women were likable characters.

This book has been a little bland. I think that is because of the dialogues, they are shallow and repetitive in the topics and impersonal.

From the beginning it is strange the way in which the two protagonists know each other and connect supposedly in a very deep way, it seems not very logical and as we discover their personalities even less coherent.

Ava's past is very present throughout the book, but Bianca's is not at all, when I think the pain that Bianca should feel is much stronger. She has turned the page very quickly, maybe. Other deeper considerations that have bothered me require discovering parts of the story that can spoil your reading, so I'll leave it here.

It is not an unpleasant or uninteresting story, not at all, the only thing is that I have not been truly hooked by it.