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BelleCurve #3

Through the Lens

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"He thought I was his muse. Turned out, he was mine too."

Maggie Stevens is done feeling objectified.

After spending her entire life in the spotlight and climbing the high fashion ranks as a model in LA, she’s willing to leave it all behind for a fresh start. Moving to Seattle seems like the perfect solution.

A clean slate.
New adventures.
Endless opportunities.

All is going according to plan. Until she meets the drop-dead gorgeous cooking instructor who delights in adding to her misery.

Desmond Blake is determined to make a name for his culinary school—one that speaks to his hard work and undeniable passion.

When his food photography hobby garners attention from an unexpected source, his dreams are finally within reach. The obstacle he never sees coming is the sharp-tongued bombshell with a distaste for all he stands for.

When Desmond accidentally captures a photo of Maggie during a moment of weakness, he starts to see there’s more to the fashionista than meets the eye…

Sometimes what can be seen through the lens is a skewed version of reality. A bent perspective. Manufactured, therefore losing all sense of authenticity. And sometimes all it takes is a different angle to see what’s right in front of you.

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2020

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About the author

K.K. Allen

37 books3,016 followers
K.K. Allen is the USA TODAY Bestselling and award-winning contemporary romance author of sweet, sexy, and inspiring stories that evoke emotion at every turn.

K.K.'s debut romance novel, Up in the Treehouse, was named the Best New Adult Book of the Year by RT Book Reviews, an honor beyond belief. And she continues to take reader’s emotions on an epic ride every single time with real, layered, coming of age romance stories that will make you fall in love over and over again.

Born in Hawaii, raised in Washington, and currently residing in Florida, K.K. lives for laughs with her little dude, the great outdoors, watching football, dancing the night away, and her eclectic taste in music.

K.K. also loves connecting with her readers and attends signings when she can! You can find upcoming event dates and other information at: www.kkallen.com.

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5 stars
546 (44%)
4 stars
440 (35%)
3 stars
200 (16%)
2 stars
27 (2%)
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13 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
Profile Image for Shabby  -BookBistroBlog.
1,585 reviews856 followers
April 30, 2020
KK has penned A feel good story, delightful to the senses and hopeful for the dejected. Very straightforward story, the only twists are in Desmond Blake & Maggie Steven's heads. They're both victims of absentee parents and a warped childhood. Both are looking for their lost self worth, but a strange thread binds them together. They weirdly share a person and their viewpoints and experiences are quite the contrary.
This goes to show that nurture played a huge part in shaping their personalities.
"You two are a match made in heaven.”
“Try a match made in hell.”


description

Maggie walks into the cooking class of Cocky Chef Desmond Blake and even though she hates it there, their paths just merge together.
I felt the sweetness that is inherently Desmond. He's caring and protective. His soft hearted nature just won me over.

description

Maggie was strong and independent and her struggles touched my heart. Her escape from the Lens proves futile, and Desmond teaches her to look at the right viewfinder!
"Through the lens, I was whoever they wanted me to be. Through the lens, I was a lie..Desmond captures moments, he doesn’t try to create them."
This story has some characters from previous books and since this is my first book by KK, now I need to go read the back list.
Enjoy the cute, sweet romance
4.5 stars for Boss Of The Sauce
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Profile Image for K.K. Allen.
Author 37 books3,016 followers
Read
April 30, 2020
AVAILABLE NOW!!! A steamy, enemies-to-friends romance.

Grab it in KU or at the special release day price! --> https://amzn.to/2ShKy4g

What you'll find:
✔️ Standalone!
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Slow burn to scorching 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
✔️ Hot cocky chef w/a love for food photography
✔��� Ex-Model, fish out of water in a big city
✔️ Witty, steaming hot banter





Profile Image for Syndi.
3,133 reviews910 followers
August 24, 2020
I am attracted to this book due to Desmont. He is sexy... with that long hair like Jax from Son of Anarchy. And he is a chef!! Holy shit! I have a soft side for a man who can cook. It is romantic.

The romance story is about 2 people who has a lot of emotional baggage in their past heal each other. I also like how Miss Allen put photography as Desmont's side hobby. Aside from cooking. The banter between the character is just alive and funny. It has min angst. I can not help falling in love with their banter and their dates.

Their chemistry is slow and yet seductive. Desmont can hold his ground to court Maggie. Again, I am in love with Desmont. He is a real catch.

4 stars
Profile Image for Jen (jensdreamylittlereads).
861 reviews101 followers
April 25, 2020
Through The Lens is just irresistible and completely captivating. I honestly couldn't stop reading once I had started and ended up reading the entire book in a single sitting. It's a beautiful, emotional, and wonderful story that captivates from the start. K.K. Allen is one of my favourite authors and she never fails to bring a terrific story that keeps you engrossed from beginning to end with her impeccable writing and her relatable and incredible characters that you can’t help but fall in love with.

From the first chapter, I fell in love with these characters and I was rooting for them from the get go. There was an amazing slow burn between Maggie and Desmond and when they finally got together, it was like pure magic. They have this undeniable beautiful connection and I absolutely loved reading their story. From their initial love hate relationship to their witty banter and the snark and sass, to their steamy passion; their romance story was a beautiful thing. This is a very emotional story and there were times that my heart broke for both Maggie and Desmond.

Through the Lens is a wonderfully beautiful story of two broken people discovering themselves and finding each other despite their flaws. This is more than a romance novel story and for me, K.K. Allen wrote a fabulous story and I truly loved everything about it.
June 11, 2020
3.5-4 ⭐'s

What was the reason you read the book? I had been seeing lots of posts about it and the way the hero talked had me intrigued.

And how was it? It was pretty good. I had already read Up in the Treehouse so it was great seeing those characters in this book.

What's it about? Maggie has a chance at being a super model and it falls through. She leaves LA to be with her sister in Seattle. Her sister takes her to some cooking classes where she meets Desmond. There's sparks but not always the good kind.

What's good about it? I enjoyed the layers of the characters and how complex they were. I also enjoyed the slow build of their relationship.

Anything you didn't like? Desmond's cocky behavior turned me off.

Anything that surprised you? How fast Desmond turned around...or just accepted things.

Would you recommend it? Yes.
Profile Image for MarvelUsReads.
359 reviews65 followers
May 4, 2020
A delectable enemies to lovers romance, K.K. Allen’s Through The Lens, is an enjoyable read! Under the weight of immense pressure, Maggie takes one wrong step, which throws her life into disarray. Embarrassed, she escapes to her sister’s where she becomes entangled in an electrifying feud with her hot cooking instructor, Desmond. Banter quickly evolves into palpable passion, and together dreams grow, forgiveness is found, and love develops. A lovely novel about personal growth.

www.marvelusreads.com
Profile Image for S.M. Soto.
Author 23 books2,471 followers
May 16, 2020
Everything I love about enemies to lovers!
Profile Image for taylorpriziola.
352 reviews25 followers
April 13, 2021



2 stars ⭐️ ⭐️

I struggle to get through this book. I never read any books by K.K. Allen and this book wasn’t a good first impression.



The story started out ok and there were some funny moments, but then it got repetitive. I am always up for a good enemies to lovers story, but this just didn’t do it for me. It never sucked me in like most of these books do. If anything Desmond and Maggie were quite boring. Their really wasn’t much of a plot. Nothing really made any sense. Like the fact that Maggie was a 26 year old model still trying to get noticed. Umm huh?




Also I notice the lack of chemistry between Desmond and Maggie and before I knew it they were already saying “I love you”
Say what? Did I miss something?




Maybe I’ll try another book by this author. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Audiobook review: 3 Stars to Nelson Hobbs. I always liked his voice, but this wasn’t his best performance, maybe that was due to the writing. This was my first time listening to Stephanie Wyles and I’m not a fan. She seriously sounds like a robot. She has no emotion in her voice. 1 Star for her.
Profile Image for Harloe Rae.
Author 35 books5,985 followers
April 27, 2020
Kk Allen delivers an award-worthy romance with Through the Lens. Her passion for this couple is punctuated with every perfectly placed word. The details are exquisite and make the story come to life. I was ravenous for this book, completely unputdownable. Desmond and Maggie swept me away with their enchanting journey. Epic enemies to lovers with a sweet, emotional kick. I was rooting for them from page one and have been left completely satisfied at the end. A top 2020 read for me!
Profile Image for Book Maniac Forever.
944 reviews378 followers
April 30, 2020

⭐️ 4 "Hot In The Kitchen" Stars ⭐️
Through the Lens was a delightful story that gave a me a nice time! I’m all for the enemies to lovers trope and the start of Desmond and Maggie’s romance is certainly stormy. With all the teasing, Desmond doesn’t make it easy for the woman to see him as more than a player. Under it all though, there’s a tangible chemistry between those two. I enjoyed the playful banters between this couple that had me so entertained with the fierce underlying attraction.

When they’re somewhat forced to worked together in Desmond’s kitchen, they slowly discovers that the other is more than meets the eye. They unveil their vulnerability about touchy subjects in their lives and it only makes their connection deeper and more real. The romance develops slowly, but beautifully between them. They made my heart flutter from the lovely progression of their romantic feelings! The sexy moments are hot, but also etched with feelings!

I didn’t previously read the first two standalone novels in the BelleCurve Series and I kind of regret it. Not because you can’t understand the story, but I would have preferred knowing the supporting characters’s own love story. I’m kind of obsessive like that and usually need to read books in a series in order. I didn’t realize the books were that connected, as Monica (the heroine of Under the Bleachers) is Maggie’s sister and is very present in this story. That being said, I still savored this romance!

K.K. Allen penned with Through the Lens a sweet, slow burn, emotional romance with touches of humor that I appreciated a lot. Now I only want to read the previous books in the series more!

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review **
Profile Image for Manoela.
1,178 reviews26 followers
November 13, 2020
4 Stars

I think one of the things that she likes most about this author's books is her ability to write books that capture my attention since the first pages, and it happened again here, even though this is not her favorite book yet I found myself captivated by this story.

Desmond was a positive surprise here, I loved his character and how he managed to break down Maggie's barriers and his passion for cooking.Maggie was a character that it took me a while to start liking, I confess that I had a case of liking and disliking her. At times I thought she was immature, throughout reading I think she grew a lot and matured so I finished the book enjoying her growth. The relationship between Desmond and Maggie was great to read I loved the dialogues between them and the dynamics between them, I think it worked well for them.

One point that I think could be better worked on here is the relationship between Maggie and her parents. I thought that the relationship with his mother was lacking a resolution, and that with his father because the conflict between them lasted almost the entire book and his stance was firm, I thought that everything was resolved too easily. I think these points could have been a little more developed.

Through The Lens is a very nice book to read that brings a sweet, fun story and with the touch of anguish enough to make this a good story

I Received an unreleased copy of this book
Profile Image for Lindsey  Domokur.
1,469 reviews120 followers
March 7, 2022
I was very excited to read this story about Maggie and Desmond. This book had everything that I could relate to, cooking, photography and the modeling world. When Maggie has a fall from grace and is living with her sister licking her wounds, she begins taking cooking classes with the gorgeous, infuriating Desmond. Immediately the sparks begin to fly between the two, and no one can deny the chemistry. I really love good tension between the two main characters because it makes it all the more explosive when they get together. Both of them have secrets they hide and once the walls are down, its clear they are more alike than they think. Maggie is still camera shy, but with Desmond by her side she is learning she can do almost anything. I enjoyed this read a lot, it was low on the angst, but high on self discovery.
Profile Image for Athena D..
933 reviews60 followers
May 5, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS

I always enjoy a good enemies to lovers romance and this one is just absolutely perfect! Desmond and Maggie have to endure each other's company considering Maggie sister is dating Desmond's best friend, as well as Maggie's dad was Desmond's high school football coach (who he has close relationship with and she does not, additional drama). The banter and the chemistry these two have in and out of the kitchen is highly entertaining and hot. Through The Lens is an EPIC read and will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!

Profile Image for Weronika -  Little Steamy Reads.
633 reviews102 followers
April 26, 2020
„You’ve given me a piece of myself I never even knew existed.”


Through the Lens is another K.K. Allen’s book that I devoured in one sitting. I love how this author delivers heartfelt and realistic stories and fills them with the perfect amount of drama, steam and emotions. Both Desmond and Maggie are relatable and engaging characters and their hate/love relantioship kept me entertained till the last page. This book is full of witty banter, sexual tension and all the feels, which is exactly what you can expect from this author.


Maggie is an ex-model who tries to find a new path in her life. Desmond is a sexy and cocky chef with an eye for photography. The delicious slow-burn between these two makes you unable to put this book down. Although we get to know them as enemies who constantly butt heads, their chemistry is palpable and ever-present. As their relantionship evolved and they became intimate, I swear that my Kindle was steaming. They were so passionate and sensual that I wanted to switch places with Maggie and stretch myself out on the counter in Desmond’s kitchen… #NoShame.


This book beautifully shows that there’s more to every person or situation than the picture shows. It also proves that assumptions are clouding our judgment and bending the reality. This life lesson was brilliantly woven into this sexy and captivating romance. K.K. Allen created emotional, scorching hot and heart-melting story. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora).
2,169 reviews293 followers
June 2, 2020
Rate: 4.5/ 5 stars

This book was fantastic! The banter was so damn fun and entertaining! Had me just salivating for all the moments these two would be in the same room. It was a great story about love and family and frienship. I loved seeing all the other characters in this series and getting to see them live their happily ever afters was so sweet. Just like Des and Maggie turned out the be, a super sweet couple. I just adored this book.

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Profile Image for bookspaced.
713 reviews15 followers
May 4, 2020


I kinda love that pic so I‘m keeping it😂

I was so excited to finally read another book of KK again after I devoured Up in the Treehouse a few weeks back. I‘m also soo excited that this book takes place in this world that I love so much.

Because I read Under the Bleachers before Up in the Treehouse I kinda forgot who the characters were. But my confusion was soon gone and I fell in Love with Desmond and Maggie. Even though I found Maggie to be a pain in my ass the first fee chapters.

I love how different both are and yet the same. Both have troubles with their past. Maggie more so than Desmond in the beginning and I was glad when she finally let him in and told him about everything. Every scene between those two was precious.

Not to forget pur beloved characters from the books before which I was excited to see again. Their continued story did not disappoint in the slightest.

Another 5 ⭐️ in this series!


ARC provided in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Audiobook Junkie! .
550 reviews36 followers
April 18, 2020

Sooooo this was a fantastic read. I haven’t done much since receiving this ARC. I have been glued to this story. Desmond and Maggie stoker my heart.

I think I realized in this book why I love all of KK Allen’s books so much and that’s because her characters are so relatable.

I loved the angst in this book, it was just enough to take the story to a different level

Once Mags and Des gave into temptation it’s like the flood gates opened and all you could do was hold on and enjoy their ride!

@kkallen_author has been a favorite of mine for a while and this book just solidified this. She doesn’t rush to put a new book out, she makes sure the story is told and leaves you content

Okay I’ll stop rambling. Available 5/1
Profile Image for Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction.
1,007 reviews824 followers
April 30, 2020
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.

This is the second book from this author that I have completely devoured. We are two for two right now and things are looking up from here.

K.K. Allen is an author that really knows how to capture emotions beautifully and organically. I love the way that she puts emotions onto paper and brings the reader into the story easily. Her writing style is just stunning and the words flow seamlessly off the page. She plans out her stories very thoroughly. The plot was addicting and I didn't want to put the book down. I love how organized and smooth the telling of the story was.

I loved how original the characters were. Both main characters had distinct personalities that really took on a life of their own. I'll be honest, at first, I didn't really like Maggie's personality much. At the same time, I still enjoyed reading about her because her character was so well written. Her character definitely grew on me throughout the book. Maggie and Desmond were both characters that felt overwhelmingly real. They were characters with just as many flaws as redeeming qualities. I loved how much depth they had and I loved seeing the incredible character growth they experienced. I also really loved seeing characters from the other books in this series. The cast of secondary characters in this book is amazing. They add more depth to the story.

It was a delight to watch the romance blossom between Maggie and Desmond. Their enemies-to-lovers romance put a huge smile on my face. They had excellent banter and undeniable chemistry. I really loved their connection. When they started to see more in the other and started to admire the other instead of dwell on how much they didn't get along it was glorious.

Overall, this was another emotional ride from this author. This book boasts relatable characters, a riveting plot, and a writing style that is breathtaking. K.K. Allen knows how to tell a damn good story and I am so excited for whatever is next.

More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction
Profile Image for Anne OK.
3,693 reviews528 followers
May 12, 2020
K.K. Allen has created a savory and sweet, hot and spicy recipe for love. With every turn of the page, there’s something delicious cooking in Desmond’s kitchen.

He’s a rising star chef and she’s the spicy seductress. Their enemies to lovers mix-up sometimes becomes a heated mess in the kitchen. Energized with a variety of all those feels that deal with life in general, family calamity, and a hot and sizzling romance.

I loved the characters that made up this story. Well-written with dialogue that evoked and appealed while revealing Desmond and Maggie’s personalities. It definitely kept this reader’s attention often with laughter, frustration and oohs and ahhs!

I certainly recommend a trip to this cooking class if you’re looking for a refreshing and light-hearted read.

Bon Appetit!
5 reviews
April 24, 2020
This book was absolutely amazing. From the first chapter, I fell in love with the characters and I rooted for them to get together. There was an amazing slow burn between Maggie and Desmond and when they finally got together, it was like magic. Just from reading the synopsis, I was so excited about the premise of the book. It sounded so unique and I was extremely excited to dive into the story. Maggie and Desmond had a beautiful connection and I absolutely loved reading their story. From their witty banter, to their steamy passion, this romance was breathtaking. This is the third book in the series but it is definitely a standalone. I have not read the first and second books yet, but now I am definitely going to pick them up soon. I loved K.K. Allen's writing and I cannot wait to read more.
Profile Image for Myen.
587 reviews
May 2, 2020
I love a good-feeling romance and KK Allen had written one hellion story. I wasnt expect the sassiness banter between Maggie and Desmond. These two lovebirds were the perfect enemies to lovers! They had the chemistry since the beginning and how they fell inlove with each other. Lost souls.. new confidence.. Through the lens really was an oh so good romance story. The angst between the feelings..
Profile Image for Tia Louise.
Author 59 books6,759 followers
Read
April 30, 2020
AVAILABLE NOW from K.K. Allen!
A steamy, enemies-to-friends romance.


Grab it here for a special release price➙ https://amzn.to/2ShKy4g

*Free in Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for My_Strange_Reading.
561 reviews92 followers
November 4, 2020
Uhhh...it was cute but not my favorite. Here is my list of pros and cons on this one.

Pros:
➕great chemistry
➕great tension/build up

Cons:
➖super cheesy
➖lots of typos
➖paper-thin reasoning for the ‘enemies’ part of the story
➖too quick to love and trust after all that hate
➖too much side drama
Profile Image for Mandie.
692 reviews34 followers
May 13, 2020
This was a fun, steamy read! These characters are completely irresistible! I just loved them! From the first page to the last, this story was breathtaking and captivating. The author has outdone herself!
Profile Image for Natalie Casey.
455 reviews22 followers
May 7, 2020
Get ready for this AMAZING FEEL GOOD story by K.k. Allen!! This book checks ALL the boxes!
You will fall in love with Maggie and Desmond so hard! Their life stories will break your heart, then weave it back together. Two people who have dealt with so much childhood pain, yet they overcome so much to be the beautiful people they are now.
Every time I read a book by K.k. Allen, I'm completely blown away by her writing. She sucks you in with her words, makes your heart beat out of your chest, you FEEL so much!! Her characters always seem so real, it's like you're right there with them!!
Get your tissues ready! You're about to take a ride on this emotional rollercoaster!!
Profile Image for Carol | tilthelastpage.
304 reviews37 followers
April 24, 2020
Rating : 3.5 stars

A struggling ex-model and an upcoming chef fall in love as they share a roof and their love for food.

This book follows the story of a 25 year old ex-model who decided to leave the spotlight and fame behind and find a life completely of her own making. In the middle of it, she met a rugged chef who seems to infuriate her as much as she infuriate him. They shared a complicated family history and it prevents them to see past the surface. So upon first meeting, they already made up their minds to hate each other.

This is a typical enemies-to-lovers but on a very grounded level. The author made these characters to be as realistic as possible. What I found very compelling is their unique backgrounds. They have intricate thoughts that drive them and held them back at the same time. Although, it can be frustrating to see the push and pull sometimes.

When it comes to the characters' romance, they do win in intensity. They have a crazy chemistry whenever they just stare or so much as look at each other. However, I was bothered by the pacing of their relationship. They went from physical to all-consuming love from 0 to 10 real fast.

Overall, I'm giving this book a 3.5 rating. I liked it. It is a romantic book with good enough amount of heat and steam to keep things interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews

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