Title: Exposed (Unguarded, #1)
Author: Ivy Stone
Genre: Erotic Romance/ Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Synopsis
One explosive encounter brought them together.
One infatuation led to a love like no other.
One secret tore them apart.
As head of the NYPD Organized Crime Control Bureau in Manhattan, Chief Detective Mason Cole walks in the line of fire every day. Between dodging bullets and braiding his daughter’s hair, Mason is tormented with haunting memories that refuse to relinquish control over him, no matter how hard he tries. After a bust gone wrong, he’s thrown for a loop by a woman who will fill his life with more chaos than ever before.One infatuation led to a love like no other.
One secret tore them apart.
Lindsey Jenkins is a self-made woman. Bold and independent, she lives unapologetically in a life of deception. That is until her facade is threatened by a force stronger than anything she’s ever felt before—love.
Leaving their hearts unguarded could lead to destruction. Even worse, it could expose them both to a war they never saw coming.
In a city coerced by corruption and treachery, what happens when your greatest passion becomes your biggest weakness?
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Excerpt
Lindsey
Reaching the bottom of the steps, I spot Alison’s one-night stand in the doorway. Roamyn’s voice echoes through the hall, deep and pissed off. “Who the hell are you?”
“Jake, what are you doing back here?” I ask, not giving the guy time to answer Roamyn. Mason stills when I use Jake’s name, his body rigid and expression pinched. Jake glances between Mason, Roamyn and myself.
“The lady asked you a question,” Mason, steps up beside me, posture tall, chest out, and I roll my eyes at his macho attitude. He actually looks pissed off. It takes me all of a second to realize why. He thinks Naked Guy is here for me, not Alison. The thought he might be jealous has me grinning for the first time this morning.
“Um, I forgot my wallet,” Jake croaks out, his voice breaking as both badass detectives shoot him looks that could kill.
Turning to me, Mason folds his arms over his torso. “Lindsey, the boy forgot his wallet.”
My eyes bulge at the unspoken insinuation he’s throwing at me.
Ali appears beside Roamyn, but before I can rip Mason’s judgmental ass a new one, she pipes up, “Wow. That was an asshole move.” All eyes land on Alison and all three men appear thoroughly confused.
I lower my hand to my hip and the other out in front of me. “Okay, hold up right there.” I aim at Mason, “Jake here, looks all of eighteen years old. I’m no cougar. So you can take your judgment and shove it right up your ass.”
“Seriously?” Ali’s voice cracks through the lasers of annoyance I’m shooting into Mason.
Amused, she points between Jake and I. “You actually thought Lindsey would bring a guy home? To her place?” Ali scoffs and Mason grimaces while scrubbing the stubble shadowing his face, obviously regretting his insinuation now.
Roamyn turns to Ali accusingly. “Wait, so he was with you then?”
“Well, yeah, he sure wasn’t screwing Miss Uptight over here.” She nods in my direction.
I roll my eyes. “Real mature, Alison.”
“Um, excuse me but–”
“What?” Cutting Jake off, four sets of pissed off eyes glare at him.
He shrinks back. “Look, if I can just grab my wallet, I’ll get out of your hair.”
“I’ll get it, hold on,” Ali murmurs as she disappears down the hall.
My Review
When I first read the blurb for Exposed, it had me intrigued to read the book. I don't normally read stories that deal with organized crime, and so this story was a bit of a detour for me.
My favorite thing about the book was Mason's character. He really is the perfect guy-strong, alpha detective but also a loving father. For me, Mason was the absolute best thing about this story. And as far as characters go, Roamyn was my second favorite--there's so much more to everything between him and Lindsey's sister that their story has also piqued my interest.
Lindsey on the other hand...she just came across as too cold to me, I could not really warm up to her character at all. While I understand that her past has shaped her personality and made her the way she is, the way her character is written just didn't move me at all. To go along with that, even though everything on Mason's side felt genuine, the two of them together just didn't work for me.
As for the storyline, you'll get plenty of drama, tension and suspense along with some relatively short hot and steamy scenes between Mason and Lindsey. The author does keep you guessing and alert, not sure of where things are going or will end up. For me though, the story just didn't pull me in like I hoped it would. I was actually wanting to know more about Roamyn and Alison's background and full story instead.
Since Mason did it for me, as well as the supporting characters, but Lindsey did not...this put me on the fence for a 3-star rating. If you're a fan of of the drama and suspense, or are into organized crime stories laced with romance, this story will be for you (18+ for adult language and sexual content).
About The Author
"Mother. Lover. Dreamer."
Ivy Stone is an Australian author and self-confessed lover of alpha males and happily ever afters. Getting lost in a fictional world is how she discovered her passion for writing. When she isn’t daydreaming up new romantic stories she’s likely to be found spending time with her family.Ivy’s debut novel ‘Exposed’ is to be released on October 20th 2015. This is the first instalment in the Unguarded series.
Ivy loves to hear from her readers, you can visit or contact her here:
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