The Unwanted Wife

By: L. Steele

Narrated by: Shane East, Roxy Isles

Amazon #5 bestseller

He’s my brother’s best friend
My fake husband...
And doesn’t believe in love

Nathan Davenport, CEO of the Davenport empire is my complete opposite.
He hates chocolate. I’m a size sixteen dessert chef.
He only wears black. I love glitter and pink.
He’s grumpy, while I look on the brighter side of life.
Too bad his piercing eyes, and high cheekbones haunt my dreams.

When he offers to loan me the money to save my bakery.
I have no choice but to agree.
Except he has conditions:

I must pretend to be his wife for a year
I must fake my feelings for him so his family believes our relationship.
I must stay by his side for the duration of our arrangement so he can claim his inheritance.

I don’t even like the man, surely I can get through this charade without developing feelings for him?
Except living in close proximity with him, our chemistry escalates
I know I am falling for the wrong man.
For when I tell him: “I love you,” he growls: “Love was never part of the equation...”

This is an opposites attract, forced proximity, one-bed, marriage of convenience, and a brother's best friend, billionaire romance with a plus size FMC. It is a complete standalone.

©2024 Laxmi Hariharan (P)2024 Laxmi Hariharan

Oh, these Davenports are gonna be so good!

The Unwanted Wife is book #1 in The Davenports series. Nathan has a tumultuous past, both personally and professionally. He's in line to become CEO of the Davenport conglomerate. He just needs a wife. Skylar is a struggling bakery owner that needs a cash infusion quick. When Nathan offers to partner up with her, his only requirement is she marry him. These two have history. He's her brother's best friend...and the man she kissed on her 18th birthday. This story has so many great vibes...grumpy rich guy, plus-size FMC, brother's best friend, virgin, marriage of convenience...it's as delicious as her pastries sound! And steamy...well, let's just say that Nathan has a little proclivity for the dark side🔥🍑💦 which makes this spicy af.

The narration of Shane East and Roxy Isles is absolutely fabulous! Shane seems to be the king of all that is rich and British and we know why. Roxy brings that hint of naivete with her sassy, crazy cursing to Skylar's character. 5 brilliant stars for this duo.

Off to a great start

Narrated by Shane East (who I could listen to all day) and Roxy Isles they certainly brought the story to life for me. Their voices are easy to listen to and they did justice to the story that Ms. Steele wove.
This was certainly a roller coaster of a listen but be prepared it will quickly hook you. Nathan Davenport and Skylar’s story is the first in the latest series and did not disappoint.
The secondary characters were intriguing and added another dimension to the story.

Brother's Best Friend - Marriage of Convenience

The Unwanted Wife by L. Steele is a brother's best friend marriage of convenience romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Shane East and Roxy Isles. This is the first book in The Davenports series.

This is the first book of L. Steele's that I have read, and it won't be my last. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't to see how it would all play out. I really enjoyed the relationship between Nathan and Skylar. I loved that we got both of their points of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.

I look forward to jumping into the next book in the series The Imperfect Marriage so I can get Quentin and Vivian's story.

Shane and Roxy did an amazing job on the narration. They both really know how to bring a story to life. I look forward to listening to more of their work in the future.

I would recommend this book if you're looking for a brother's best friend romance, marriage of convenience romance, or a billionaire romance.

Steele knows her way around the heart.

Steele knows her way around the heart. From the waltz of temptation to the two-step of heartache, The Unwanted Wife tangos it's way into your soul. Skylar and Nathan turn a conveniently, inconvenient marriage into an accidentally perfect second chance. Sweet and sultry never loses sight of the emotion that romance entails.

The twist!!

This was spicier than I expected, and it had a big twist I also wasn’t expecting! I really enjoyed Nate and Skylar’s love story. They’re definitely destined to be together, despite their crazy history. This audio was fantastic, and I can’t imagine anyone could’ve been better as the narrators than Shane East and Roxy Isles. I loved the narration!

I can’t wait to listen to book 2

The Unwanted Wife is book 1 in The Davenports series by L. Steele. This was my first time reading a book by L. Steele and now I can’t wait to listen to book 2 on audio!

Skylar is a plus sized bakery owner who loves spicy books and is super witty. Nathan is a broody billionaire and ex-marine with PTSD. He is also Skylar’s brother’s best friend. On Skye’s 18th birthday she kisses Nathan and despite kissing her back, he ends up walking away. Fast forward a few years and Nathan is standing in Skye’s bakery offering to help save her bakery from closing, but with one catch - she has to marry him first.

I really enjoyed this story! I will say at one point I felt a little confused and was wondering if I had missed something, but then there was a huge twist that left me in tears. There were actually a couple of twists that both had me crying, which I did not expect! Nathan’s possessiveness was over the top and I ate it up. I loved Skylar’s quick wit and playful personality. I have officially started using TV show names in place of swear words now too. 🙃

The narration was fantastic! It had been awhile since I have had the pleasure of listening to Shane East, and he did not disappoint. He portrayed Nathan’s dominant and demanding personality just as I imagined. This was my first time listening to Roxy Isles and she was amazing! Between the writing and her performance, she had me laughing and crying. I can’t wait to listen to more from her.

The banter is spot on!!!

I liked this alot the polt was nice and spicy but had some laughable moments. I enjoyed the characters and can't wait to read / listen to the next one.
I have some questions and I bet as the story unfolds we'll get our answers and then some. that ending so far ... I just what ?!? I love a good bakery and I love a good story this has both... only thing missing are the baked good in my real life hands.

4/5 Plot
3/5 Spice
4/5 Overall

I want those baked goods !!! This was a Yummy But Spicy Read !!!

Love this new series!

A brand-new series called The Davenports brings its first exemplary listen in The Unwanted Wife. I have fallen in love with these characters and their romance. The writing is fantabulous and the cosmos has a solid foundation. In L. Steele style she brings an entertaining story with friendships, harrowing moments, humour, secrets, unforeseen twists and so much more. The characters are complex and compelling personalities. Nathan Davenport starts out serious but there is a whole other-side of him you won’t want to miss. You can’t help but fall for him. Skylar is a sweet and spirited pastry chef who you want to be friends with. Nathan and Skylar are polar apart that bring out the best in each other. I highly recommend listening this contemporary romance novel as it will bring jubilation, turn on the water works and rejuvenate your mind.

Narrators Shane East and Roxy Isles bring this duet narration to reality. Shane East is my favorite British narrator and never disappoints. Roxy Isles did amazing with her performance of Skylar.

Great start to a new series

This book is a good start to a new series. Nathan and Skylar enter into an arranged marriage that is beneficial to both of them. They are perfect for each other. The narration by Shane East and Roxy Isles was absolutely phenomenal. They really brought the story to life. I received this audiobook for free upon my request. I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased review.

Even better

I purchased the book before the audiobook was available and loved it. But the audiobook is phenomenal. The narrators are spot on and pair amazingly