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Saturday, August 30, 2014

#Review: Expose Me (5th Avenue Trilogy) .@Katehewitt1

Book Title: Expose Me ( Fifth Avenue Trilogy) Book 3
Author:  Kate Hewitt |Website|  TwitterFacebook|
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series/Standalone: Series Book 3 (Finale)
Format: Trade Paperback
Cost: $9.99
Pages: 264
How I got it: Purchased at Books A Million
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: August 2014
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Synopsis:
Ten years ago one devastating night changed everything for Austin, Hunter and Alex. Now they must each play their part in the revenge against the one man who ruined it all. With ruthless determination, Alex Diaz has risen up from his deprived roots to become the head of a global media empire. But he has one last thing to achieve…avenge his friend by destroying the man responsible for her death, Jason Treffen. With stunning talk-show host Chelsea Maxwell about to interview Treffen live on TV, this is Alex's chance. He'll use her show to exact a very public revenge—and seducing Chelsea, if needed, would certainly be no hardship. But he underestimates Chelsea and the attraction between them, and as their relationship deepens, Alex realizes that to annihilate Treffen could also shatter the life that Chelsea has built to protect herself….
So I went to the bookstore and they said it wasn't due out until July 29th and I almost cried, but I understood. I went home and just hung my head for like three days, then went back and it was out and I freaked, snatched the book ran to the register and went home, I finished it that same night. (funny aside as soon as I finished reading it, I get an email from NetGalley saying Harlequin approved me for the title, well played Harlequin well played). Now onto the review..

This story is just as emotional as the others.  Even more so, because they hide so much from themselves and from each other.  In this one both of the characters are so deeply wounded and damaged it makes them guarded and afraid to meet someone without outing up barriers.  Alex's suspicions about his past really make him very guarded and I can totally understand why, that's gotta hurt.

 Alec is blown away by Chelsea when he realizes that the rumors don't do her justice nor do they disclose the clever and sharp mind hiding beneath the beautiful and cool smile.m   Chelsea is a complex and wounded character who at first appears one way but as the story unfolds we learn more about her hidden depths, her fears, and her reasons for having her walls.  Her past is brutal but she rose above the fray and excelled in a way no one thought she would.

As we learn more and are introduced to more characters I wanted to learn more about them, and their journeys that brought them here.  Her sister appears to be a complex and nuanced character that I wish we had gotten more of because she also helped to make Chelsea who she was.  I wanted to know who she had become, where she had been and what put the ghosts in her eyes.  Zair was mentioned in all three books and now I want more from him.

As the book progressed I laughed, teared up a bit, got furious with things that were happening and wanted so much more.  On page 209 I laughed because Kate's Britishness peaked through when she called the bandages "sticking plaster"   Then of course when Chelsea meets Alex's mom and she cuts right to the heart of the situation  I was floored, Holy Crap, I love her!!

I love that they are both in unknown teritory and that's it's not just the girl wanting this to work that the are both vested and emotional.  I loved how they learnt to both trust and use each other, that the plan hinged on Chelsea being willing to accept the truth, that she be willing to not just stand up for self but also for a young woman too wounded to fight anymore.  I loved watching the unfurling of Chelsea as a woman, and as a survivor, instead of hiding she embraced herself once again and lived!!!

The book is extremely well written, especially because it didn't give a perfect happy ending.  There is still more to be done, But it gave us the full story we had been working towards.  Those last few moments as they worked towards that justice were pretty freaking tense, I was speed reading trying to get to the end so I could see how it went down and it was epic!! Man I really felt like I was there in the room when it happened. Ain't no spinning this story now jackass (yes I'm talking to the villain). I loved that even though it appeared like it was the men who were bringing the revenge that each story hinged on the courage of the women they met and their decision to seek justice, to stand up, and to speak for all the women who couldn't.

The saddest part about these books of course is knowing that there are women in these situations.  That they are actually women who are living with this horror daily.  They don't have someone like Chelsea/Alex or Katy/Austin or Zoe/Hunter to avenge them and that's the worse part.
 ★★★
While I would have loved an epilogue, I get that there wouldn't have been a way to end it that would satisfy everyone.  In reality these things sometimes take years especially if the villain has money to hide behind.  But I can imagine the justice I want and that's an even better ending!!  I highly recommend the series.  Have you read them?? What do you think of the subject matter? I must say I'm happy that romance novels are finally talking about more than just them meeting and falling in love, even though I love those kinds of stories too.  Leave it in the comments!!

Happy Reading

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