This is (I know it's a surprise) my first book by Alessandra Torre, so first a big thanks to the author for sending an advance copy to a new reader, it was appreciated.

I didn't really know what to except. I know I have heard great things about her books, I know people love them, I have friends who really lover her writing, so I knew I was going to get something that was good.

But, this was a really different friends to lovers. They were FRIENDS. They dated other people, they talked about the things that were going on in their lives. And I loved seeing this. Often, the friendship is already developed in the story by time we meet the characters, but in this we got to go along for the ride as a reader. And, I really liked that. It made it feel different, and gave it an edge that was a lot of fun.

There is a lot that I could say, but I don't want to spoil, so I am going to say that I loved the point they were in of their relationship as friends before they become a couple. i liked the amount of time it took, and I liked the way the story developed. This was as much a friends to lovers as it was about 2 friends who get to know one another and through that friendship become willing to let the other know more and more about them...and I adored that.

I definitely recommend this book!

If I could describe Alessandra Torre’s new book in lingerie, I would have to go with a piece that is enticing to the eye, yet leaves a lot to the imagination. It would create a slow seduction–maybe a drawstring that the peruser would have to open slowly, like a gift. Anticipation, building, climbing, soaring to the highest peak where there’s a YES, YES, YES… then maybe a little more teasing. Actually a lot of teasing till the pressure becomes so strong, so powerful that you know the moment that’s ahead of you will take over leaving you breathless coming down from the biggest high of your life.

Wow. I’m a little heated 😉.

So back to Love in Lingerie. Looking at the cover I automatically thought of sex. I mean who wouldn’t? But God, this book was so, so much more.

Trey Marks’s company is failing. He drowning in a sea of debts and brings in Kate Martin to use her creative genius to turn the company around. The attraction between them is off the charts, but both are terrified to destroy the company they’ve worked so tirelessly to rebuild by becoming “more”.

“I’m temperamental, and terrible with instructions, and I can be a real asshole… But despite what you heard about me, there are certain lines I don’t cross, and fucking my employees is one of them.”

Their relationship is the slow burn, friends-to-lovers story that had my kindle steaming!

“Each pass of his suit reminds me of a donut shop display, a million calories, lined up to tempt you. A million mistakes, all brightly lit and just a touch away.”

Love in Lingerie has a hot, soak your panties hero and a strong badass heroine. Their attraction will leave you a sweating, horny hot mess.

Trust me when I tell you, Alessandra Torre’s writing is incredible and the this book is unputdownable!!

With so many laugh out loud moments, sexual tension that will make your heart pound and your body tingle, and a plot that fits together seamlessly, you’ll love it!

Love in Lingerie by Alessandra Torre
4.5 stars!!!

“If our love was lingerie, it would never come off.”

Love in Lingerie is the epitome of the slow burn, a gorgeous friends to lover’s romance that will have even the hardest of hearts totally melted into a mushy pool. This was a swoon fest and my heart and soul totally fell in love with these two characters. As ever, character connection was on point, dialogue was spot on, humour and wit scattered throughout and Alessandra Torre delivered one of the most intense friendships I have read about in a long, long while.

“Lingerie, I can handle. Visions, I can create. A team, I can inspire. A boss, I can please.”

Alessandra Torre can turn her hand to anything she puts her mind to, from her dark reads to her romantic comedy, Hollywood Dirt, which is still one of my favourite reads…EVER. Love in Lingerie is a contemporary romance with a friends to lover’s trope and as I said above is the epitome of the slow burn. This book makes you wait, and wait, and wait…but with every page, every glance, every word that oozes between this couple you are just willing them to wake up and smell the coffee. These two belong together, they bring out the best in each other, they are best friends, they work amazingly well together, they were just darn perfect.

“If this woman was lingerie, she’d be black leather, with studs along the seams and enough of a dominatrix vibe to give a man pause. If this woman was lingerie I’d strip it off and then properly show her who is in charge.”

Trey and Kate, Kate and Trey, these two went together like peanut butter and jelly. The unlikeliest of friendships in the first instance, yet once these two got going you were perpetually fanning the flames. There was enough electricity between these two to power the national grid and with each turn of the page that connection only intensified. The sexual tension is enough to cause your heart to stop and how these two managed for so long without crossing that line is beyond me. These two were the king and queen of restraint and cold showers.

Trey Marks is struggling, his company has hit the skids and his lingerie company is in desperate need of a breath of fresh air. When Kate walks into his office for the new creative director interview she immediately intrigues him and he thanks the lucky stars that she has an engagement ring on her finger as he has a strict no fraternization policy and that ring will ensure that despite his initial attraction he would never act upon it.

“If my need was lingerie, it’d be blood-red, with lines that scream for attention.”

Kate has been in a stagnant job for over a decade and when the current creative director announces once again that she won’t be retiring Kate soon realises if she wants her career to progress then she needs to change jobs. Kate is well aware of Trey Mark’s reputation and as soon as their eyes meet she feels parts stir that shouldn’t, but for the sake of her career she could hold herself back.

“I don’t need Trey in my bed, as my boyfriend. I can be happy having him everywhere else.”

Herein starts one of my favourite friendships both as co-workers and outside of work. These two bounce off each other, they lift each other, they support each other, through work trials and tribulations as well as relationship woes too. These two never crossing the line because of that dreaded policy and also the intense fear of wrecking the friendship they both treasure more than anything in the world.

“I’ve wondered if we’d have chemistry or whether our tension was all a myth, the promise of the unattainable only hot because of its impossibility.”

Love in Lingerie was a fantastic read. Light hearted, swoon worthy, intense, low on angst but high on all the feels and emotion. This is a great sweep yourself away from the rest of the world read that is all-consuming, heart-warming and soul lifting. Totally loved it.

www.theromancecover.com

4.5 C A P T I V A T I N G & T H R I L L I N G stars

I'm beyond speechless.

This book was something else!!!

I was captivated by the uniqueness of the storyline but also by the friendship and relationship Trey had with Kate. I couldn't put the book down. The intense sexual attraction and flirtyness had me squirming in my seat. Trey turned up the heat, just by walking into a room. And the 'maybe, maybe not' drove me insane with anticipation. Every chapter brought new temptation for Trey and Kate.

I LOVED the forbidden, it made the story so much more juicy.

The thrilling knowledge that if Kate wouldn't have been engaged he couldn't have helped himself and would have BOUNCED! That underlying temptation was palpable throughout the entire novel. One thin, fragile tether controlled his ravenous desire to make Kate his. And that leash was in danger of being ripped and shredded on every page.

Trey and Kate had an amazing chemistry. The kind that ignited just by a glance, a touch, a thought. It started with attraction, that developed into a friendship that was unlike anything I've ever read about. Not only did they work fabulously together, Trey as the owner of a lingerie company and Kate his newly acquired Creative Director, they also completed each other in a way that most couple never do.

She challenged him constantly, but also called to his dominant site. His commanding nature aroused her but didn't diminish her inner strength to push back and put him in his place when needed. They trusted each other, knew each others strength and weaknesses. Often a single glance was all they needed to communicate.

They knew each other better than anyone else, including their significant others. Oh yeah, they both were in relationships at times.

Which was tantalizing, nerve-racking and kept me turning pages like CRAZY.

(Let's get it out of the way, nobody cheated on anyone.)

But that was not the only thing that had me glued to the pages. Mr. Trey had some big, kinky secret stashed away. OMG, I had to pick up my jaw off the floor. Call me intrigued and HOT!!

The entire book was pretty much one loooong foreplay. There was so much innuendo and flirting going on, it left me all hot and bothered.

Love in Lingerie had everything I could have hoped for and MORE. I had no idea what was coming. This book was so much more than I could have ever expected. Trey - he was something else. Seductive, commanding, blunt, and head over heels in love with HIS Kate. Oh, he made me SWOOOOON.

It was an immense pleasure to review this book. Alessandra Torre has a style of writing that I adore. None of her books are like the other. Always fresh and unique. Love in Lingerie should be read uninterrupted and enjoyed to it's fullest. It deserves your unending devotion.

Review posted January 13th 2017

Alessandra Torre managed to take elements that we're used to (boss/employee romance, friends-to-lovers, playboy hero) and make them feel wholly unique with the way that she pens them. This story was addictive and provocative. It has the kind of allure that will keep it in your mind long after it ends with its angst-filled story about two best friends who are riddled with sexual tension and deep affection for one another; so much so that your chest will hurt and your tummy will tingle and you'll wantwantwant them to giveingiveingivein already.

All I know and can say is that Trey and Kate and their story were written in a way that it demands you take the journey with them. It feels different, set apart, from the rest. Torre builds it perfectly, beautifully. There's no magical fix or easy get-together of two people who circle one another and it isn't made easy for them for the sake of the book. But it doesn't kill you either. It's a fine line that Torre takes us on where she gives us little treats to keep us moving forward and I loved that it made the journey fully worth it. Because it really is about their journey over the years, the growth they both make, and the love that is built along through it all. It's erotic without being overly sexual. It's hot without being scalding.

Both characters were outside the norm for their type: Kate being wise without being naive; Trey being a playboy without the harem. It's the kind of book you literally devour in one sitting and then get angry about because you did and it's over, and you weren't ready to let them go. I loved it. Truly. LOVE IN LINGERIE was a powerful read filled with delicious angst that was impossible to put down until the last page was turned. And even then it'll continue to stick in your mind. The best stories always do.

This book packed two things that I love in books, it had slow burn romance and sexual tension for days. This story ended up being so much more than what I expected. I thought we were getting a little sexy story but the feelings and the angst were more than I bargained for. Soooo good!

Kate is working for Trey to help him rebuild his lingerie company, cue the forbidden part of this story. I really truly enjoyed that they did fight it and they did build a friendship over the time. I think that is what sets this book out from the rest of them with the co-worker forbidden story lines. I think that helped build all that chemistry and gave me that angst I love so much.

I love Alessandra's ability to dive into different things and just succeed at it. She has something for everyone between her Deanna Madden books, Love Chloe, Hollywood Dirt, etc. She can draw your attention in and keep you till the book is done. Grab this one now, you won't be sorry!

4.5-5 STARS <33.

I can't even express how much I loved this book!Alessandra delivers a sexy,steamy,slow burn, office romance!For one more time I'm impressed with Alessandra's beautiful writing!I felt every word in this one!

"If this woman was lingerie,she'd be black leather,with studs along the seams and enough of a dominatrix vibe to give a man pause.".

The characters were absolutely fantastic!Kate is smart and feisty.She has her own opinion and she doesn't afraid to say what she thinks.Trey is charming,sexy,bossy and funny.They have an amazing chemistry and you could feel the connection and the intensity between them.

"The man is a complete tease.He flirts like a teenage boy, then walks away and leaves me panting.".

Overall it was a sweet story that I enjoyed reading!If you like reading slow burn romance then this is perfect for you!!I highly recommend it!

***4.5 ‘The slow, excruciating simmer’ Stars***

OMG these two!! They seriously drove me batshit crazy and yet I couldn’t put the damn book down. I couldn’t. They were addictive in their insanity to keep each other compartmentalized all nice and neatly in the friend and business partner zone even with the crazy chemistry between them and I needed to find out what would finally push them both over the edge.

Trey and Kate drove me crazy, they did, and yet I still loved and adored them. Trey I adored. The man has all that alpha goodness going on: sexy, dominant, compassionate, generous and has charisma in spades. He’s unapologetic about his kinks and takes most everything in stride and yet keeps his heart firmly hidden behind a kevlar wall because the fear of losing it all by truly giving it away is a risk he can’t bear. But watching him evolve and seeing the man he’s become in the end made my heart all kinds of swoony twitterpatted.

Overall I adored Kate. I loved her tenacity and vision when it came to her professional life. The passion she has for lingerie and how to make her vision a reality, whether it be a corset or way to market the product was awe inspiring. But her vision of what her ‘perfect’ man and relationship was what drove me crazy (OMG I almost shot Craig), it’s not that what she wanted was wrong, just...well, she tended to see only what she wanted to. But I have to give her props because when she decides to go all in, she really does and does it with her whole heart.

Their relationship. I’ve already stated how batshit it drove me, but it was because they were so damn good together from the beginning. They had that chemistry, that connection that jumped off the page and for them to not truly act on it was outright sacrilegious in my mind, BUT, and I hate to admit this, the reasons they didn’t act were logical ones. They both needed to grow, that they ended up growing together was just icing on the cake, so when they finally jumped it really was worth it. The went from being business partners to best friends to lovers and though I wanted things to move faster, it was perfect for them. And that epilogue? Swoon. Worthy.

This is the first book I’ve read by Alessandra Torre, though I do have a couple of hers sitting on my Kindle, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing was engaging, the pacing good and I enjoyed the dual first person POV’s. The story was well thought out, even though it drove me crazy, which I suppose is also a positive that Ms. Torre got me so invested. My one ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ issue is that I kind of wish there had been a little more aftermath after the Sword of Damocles reveal dropped. I know it sounds crazy after I’ve just verbal vomited about long it took for them to get together, but I gotta be honest. Some readers are going to have issues with some of the goings on that Trey and Kate partake in, and that is your prerogative, but look at it as a necessary and realistic part of the process. And those little touches at the end of some of the chapters to describe the mood were brilliant!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1829735260?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

This story was such a slow burn, but oh my god, it was so worth it! The sexual tension and chemistry between these two characters was off the charts. The push and constant pull had my angst and anxiety levels going through the roof. There was a time or two when I wanted to go through my kindle and shout,"get it on already!".

Trey Marks is the CEO of Marks Lingerie; a company that is currently struggling and need someone or something to bring them back to life...enter Kate Martin. She's the new Creative Director and is exactly what the company needs. There is just one problem...he's attracted to her and Trey doesn't mix business with pleasure or sleep with his employees.

Over the years they develop an easy work relationship and friendship, eventually becoming best friends. Though in the background, there is always that undeniable attraction toward each other. Whenever they are in a room together there is always a friendly banter, but also a sexual need to take their clothes off and devour one another. A need that neither of them is willing to give into, for fear of ruining their friendship or working partnership.

There are moments of weakness from Kate...

"Will he lower his mouth to mine? Maybe. Will he slide his hands up my sweater and brush his fingers over my breasts? I hope so"

And there are moments of weakness from Trey...

"I am just seconds away from being able to have her, from gripping her ass and pulling her onto me, from pushing deep inside and fully owning this incredible woman."

But when the moment finally happens...OH MY GOD!! I can't tell you how hot it was, I just need you to read this book. You need to experience every moment, every touch, every gasp, and every breath that this couple takes.

This story will pull you in from the first chapter. It will take you on a journey through every emotion possible and you will root for this couple until the very end. I can safely say this is my favourite read so far of 2017!

3.25 Let me start this review by stating that I have loved Alessandra Torre's book since Blind Innocence. The only books of hers that I haven't read are the Deanna Madsen one because I'm not into psychological thrillers that much. When I saw on social media she was writing a new sexy novel, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

I've read plenty of books with a slow burn theme, but I really wasn't expecting this situation with this book in particular. It really breaks my heart with my rating. I felt the book choppy at many points. I wasn't happy with the idea that Kate was engaged to such a bore whom treated her nicely, but I kept rolling my eyes. How she broke it off with Craig, Then dating Stefan and Trey dating Chelsea, and how things ended on that end, again not a fan.

The sexual tension and heat didn't bother me, let me make that clear, I didn't like the head games. I get Trye and Kate wanted to maintain a professionalism and all that jazz, but then the teasing and flirting, I just didn't get.

It really pains me, I think this story was rushed in my opinion. All I want to do is go in a corner and cry because I was expecting an Alessandra Torre erotica that we have all come to love and know.

*An ARC was provided via Net Galley for an honest review.

This has to be the most frustrating, angst filled forbidden romance I have ever read, but I loved ever second of it. This story couldn’t have been told any better.

Even though there were some aspects of the story I didn’t really care for, they didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this story. This book had my emotions all over the place. I was laughing one minute and then I wanted to throw my kindle the next. (although that was the most prominent feeling through parts of this book) Alessandra Torre is a fantastic story teller. Her storylines are interesting and captivating. Her characters are friendly and lovable and easy to relate to.

This story is told over a couple of years, but it doesn’t drag along at all. This is a fairly quick read. I was able to read it in less than a day. She kept the flow and pace of this story moving smoothly. I had a hard time putting this book down. I love how she sucks her readers in and makes you feel like a part of this story and these characters lives.

Love in Lingerie is a forbidden friends to lovers story. We follow the story of Kate and Trey. Trey is the owner of Marks Lingerie Company and his company is slowly going down the hill. Enter Kate who is interviewing for the Creative Director position. They have instant chemistry but Trey has certain rules when it comes to mixing business with pleasure…..he doesn’t do it!!! So over the course of years, their friendship grows, but so do their feelings for each other. Both scared of ruining the business relationship and their friendship, they fight those feelings….causing a lot of Sexual Tension!!! It literally melted my kindle ;) Will Trey and Kate ever get over their fear and embrace their true feelings?? What happens when Trey’s past secrets come to light, Will Kate be able to accept them?? Will these two ever get a HEA??? You need to read this book to find out.

If you are a fan of Alessandra’s you don’t want to miss this book!!! If you love angst filled forbidden romances between friends, then this is a book you should read. Definitely one of my favorites of 2017!!! I know I will be reading this again in the future.

Is there anything more delicious, more addictive, more satisfying than a steamy office romance? The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren, and Tangled by Emma Chase are some of my absolute favorites and now Love in Lingerie by Alessandra Torre is on that list. This book is so sexy. The chemistry and the tension between Kate Martin and Trey Marks, both in and out of the office, is combustible. Painful in its build, maddening in its pace, Love in Lingerie takes angst and slow burn to another level, a brutal level I wasn't sure I'd survive without going up in flames myself.

This story began as what, I assumed, was your garden variety office romance. A sexy CEO and his hot new consultant, sizzling sexual tension, sharp workplace banter, off the charts chemistry warring with a completely off-limits attraction. Ok, fine. But then it evolved, unexpectedly, into a friends to lovers type dynamic rife with angst and reluctance and jealousy. And then it got messy. Really. Freaking. Messy. And my chest started to ache. And I started fighting the urge to scream and throw my kindle and cry and I couldn't decide if I loved every minute of it or if I hated these characters for everything they were doing and everything they weren't saying. And then I realized that I was simply loving this book so much because of how much it was killing me, how slow burning it was, how perfectly Alessandra Torre was drawing out this storyline, layering this plot with unexpected twists and secrets and things left unsaid. It was everything I wanted and nothing I could've expected and I. LOVED. EVERY. MINUTE. Every brutally painful, sensual, hopeful, beautiful minute.

Alessandra Torre has to be one of the most versatile romance authors on the market today. You really never know what you'll get from her because her arsenal is boundless. She writes phenomenal erotica, she writes completely unforgettable contemporary romance, she's delivered sports romances, dark and edgy storylines, light and fluffy rom com, and now this.... THIS... Love in Lingerie is edgy, it's light and fun, steamy and emotional, angsty and devastating in every way a story can be. It's everything. It's HOT. It gutted me. It made me smile and laugh and silently scream in frustration. It's completely unputdownable and with Torre's flawless writing style, Love in Lingerie is going to be, HANDS DOWN, one of the best books you'll read this year.