The Unwanted Love

A Brother's Best Friend Romance (The Davenports)

By: L. Steele

Narrated by: Shane East, Roxy Isles

He's my brother's best friend...

And completely out of bounds...

One look from Nathan Davenport makes my heart stutter.

Six feet three inches of pure muscle with stormy blue eyes that see right through me.

He's everything I've dreamed about since I was sixteen

And snuck glances as he trained with my brother in our backyard.

Not that he noticed...

He’s the decorated Royal Marine who commands every room he enters.

I'm the curvy girl who hides behind textbooks and oversized hoodies.

He’s the definition of off-limits–my brother's best friend,...

Also, my hopeless crush

And the man who still sees me as his best friend’s kid sister.

Or so I thought...

Because lately, those lingering glances feel different.

The air crackles when we're alone.

And the way he tensed when that guy hit on me at my brother's barbecue?

Definitely not brotherly protection.

I've spent years playing it safe, ducking away whenever he visits.

But now I'm eighteen, done with hiding...and ready to show him I'm not that shy little girl anymore.

There's just one problem: Nathan's iron-clad loyalty to my brother.

But some rules are meant to be broken...

The Unwanted Love is the prequel to The Unwanted Wife–Nathan & Skylar’s story. An emotional angsty romance featuring a protective Marine, a curvy heroine finding her confidence, and all the delicious tension of falling for your brother's best friend. This novella includes strong chemistry, found family feels, and a guaranteed HEA. One-click to start listening today!

©2024 Laxmi Hariharan (P)2024 Laxmi Hariharan

Good tease!

Having not read any of the series yet, this was a great introduction to the next book with the full story of Sky and Nathan. Shane East is my favorite narrator and if I see his name, I know I will enjoy the book. This was my first L. Steel read and I really enjoyed what I heard so far. This is the first time I’ve heard Roxy and I think I she did a really good job and portraying Sky at 18. This little listen had what I love; military romance, best friend’s little sister, somewhat forbidden, and enough tension to keep you wanting more, a little taste of what’s to come. Only reason it’s a 4 for me is the age gap for this particular read. 18 and 33 is a bit much for me, but I pushed on through though for the next book because she’s older and I know I will enjoy it more, even with the 15 yr age gap. It was a plus that it was only some first base plus grinding for this round. I am definitely interested in listening to their full story.

OMG

Another wonderful book by an amazing author. Enjoyable short story. I loved learning more about Nathan and Skylar from the beginning of their story. I loved their story in Unwanted Wife. Their chemistry and heat make your knees weak! This series is amazing! Highly recommend

Forecasts a series that may be too OTT for me

It’s possible that Shane East alone sold this, but I think I also enjoyed the feisty, 23 year old curvy girl using made up swear words to spar with her brother’s best friend, 38 year old Nate.

Of course, before getting to the 30 minute preview of book 1 in The Davenport series, there’s an uncomfortable hour of just turned 18 Sky’s birthday party. I actually think this prequel may have turned me off getting the book. I can love a good age gap book where the FMC is worldly, but here it feels barely legal-sketchy.

I’m still on the fence about moving onto book 1 as it seems like the formula is: (1) Longer books at 13 hours where 8-10 should do, (2) more sex than story, and (3) OTT kitchen sink romance where all of the same tropes appear (virgin, age gap, fake marriage, marine, grumpy/sunshine, CEO, alpha dom/sub).
But, the narrators rock, so …

Update: took me all of two days to decide to get book 1 and it contained all my predicted flaws and then some … and yet I enjoyed book 1 for the popcornp😜rn that it is. Oddly, I would recommend against this prequel- just go straight to book 1.